Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will not be able to play for Lancashire next season because of international commitments.

Pakistan travel to Sri Lanka for a Test series in June and Muralitharan will be a key figure for the home side.

It means he Lancashire have been forced to tear up the two-year contract he signed at the end of last summer.

"I sincerely regret this situation as I was looking forward to returning to Lancashire and performing well," he said.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my last season and would love to play for Lancashire again in 2001."

Summer sensation

The 27-year-old off-spinner was a sensation in his brief spell at Old Trafford last summer when he took 66 wickets in just six championship games.

He was named the county's members' player of the year.

He signed a deal for the 2000 season - on condition he would be available for at least 10 championship matches.

The Pakistan tour, coupled with another series against South Africa would make that impossible.

Lancashire chairman Jack Simmons said: "Murali was a great asset to Lancashire last season when his contributions on and off the field were outstanding.

"I am personally very disappointed that he will not be joining us again this year, and we must now start the search for an equally top-class replacement."

Australian Stuart MacGill, who took 27 wickets in four Ashes Tests against England last winter, is one reported possibility.