Sangakkara signs for Lancashire

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara will be Lancashire's overseas player next season, the English county announced Monday.

The 32-year-old Sangakkara, one of the world's leading batsmen, will arrive at Old Trafford once he has completed his international commitments at the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean and at the proposed Asia Cup.

Sangakkara has been a mainstay of the Sri Lanka side for a decade and the left-hander has an impressive Test batting average of 55.10.

He is also a top-class wicketkeeper although Lancashire said he had been signed as a batsman.

Sangakkara is set to become the latest Sri Lankan to represent Lancashire, following international team-mates Muttiah Muralitharan and Sanath Jayasuriya.

Speaking from India, where Sri Lanka have just completed their latest tour, Sangakkara, in a Lancashire statement, said: "I am thrilled to be joining Lancashire and really looking forward to representing a club and county that has such a long and distinguished cricketing history.

"Murali always talks fondly of his times at Lancashire so I had no hesitation in accepting the club's kind offer to play for them in the upcoming season."

Sangakkara is set to miss the first six weeks of the 2010 English campaign because of Sri Lanka duty and Lancashire cricket director Mike Watkinson said he and coach Peter Moores were looking at bringing in a temporary overseas replacement to cover his absence.

"The first part of the season is full of Championship cricket, so myself and Peter are looking at our options in terms of cover for Kumar during this period," Watkinson explained. Lancashire, who came fourth in the First Division of last season's County Championship, haven't been crowned outright English champions since 1934.

AFP