Surrey sign Pakistan all-rounder Yasir Arafat for 2011

Arafat helped Sussex to the Twenty20 title in 2009

Surrey have signed experienced Pakistan all-rounder Yasir Arafat as their overseas player for the 2011 season.

The 28-year-old has spent seven seasons playing county cricket in Britain for Sussex, Kent and Scotland at will be available for the whole season.

Surrey cricket manager Chris Adams told BBC London 94.9: "I'm thrilled. He is a wonderful player who will add balance to the side.

"He knows county cricket inside out and I'm delighted he's on his way here."

Arafat is a right-arm seam bowler who can swing the ball both ways as well as being a solid lower order batsman.

Adams said: "We know he's an outstanding one-day bowler but he's an important cog in our wheel moving forward in four-day cricket this season.

"He's that elusive spin option that can turn the ball and will compliment the spinners we already have to balance the side out."

Arafat is the third leading wicket-taker of all time in Twenty20 competitions, helping Sussex to the title in 2009 and was part of the side which won the County Championship Division Two in 2010.

He will arrive at The Oval in April and be available for the whole campaign. Adams is sure Arafat is the right player for the overseas role, adding: "We've chased some blockbuster names to fill this [overseas] role in recent years and it's not worked out so in Yasir we have someone who sits below that tier of player.

"He knows what's required physically as well as tactically or technically. He's a very low maintenance individual as I know from my time as his captain at Sussex."