Sri Lankan off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake has signed up with English cricket county team Worcestershire, replacing Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal for the upcoming season.
"With Saeed Ajmal's situation it is always difficult with so much international cricket being played around the world. But we are very happy with Senanayake, a proven international player," Worcestershire's Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes said in a statement referring to Ajmal's international comeback after being suspended for a suspect bowling action.
The Pakistani bowler will be making a comeback in a tour of Bangladesh later this month after modifying his action and is unavailability has prompted Worcestershire to opt for Senanayake.
"He has played a lot of game in the shorter formats for Sri Lanka, not a lot of the Test matches, but his first class record is excellent," Rhodes said.
The 30-year-old Senanayake has played in 45 ODIs, 17 T20 internationals and one Test. He was called for throwing by the ICC last year and underwent preventive action to correct his bowling action.
Senanayake now joins Kumar Sangakkara (Surrey) and Mahela Jayawardena (Derbyshire) as other Sri Lankans who are billed to play English county cricket this season.
