Bears suffer Jayasuriya T20 blow

Sanath Jayasuriya is unavailable for Warwickshire's Twenty20 Cup campaign after being named in Sri Lanka's squad for the Asia Cup in Pakistan.

The Bears said late last year Jayasuriya would play for them in the tournament, which starts on 11 June.

But now Warwickshire director of cricket Ashley Giles will look elsewhere for a suitable replacement.

Giles said: "The news comes out of the blue. It's disappointing especially given his recent form in the IPL."

Jayasuriya - the only player to score more than 12,000 runs and take more than 300 wickets in the 50-over format - retired from Test cricket in December.

606: DEBATE
"Does anyone know who has been impressing during the IPL that we could try and sign?"
wilters

But at the time, he said he intended to continue playing one-day internationals.

And though he was dropped from the squad for the tour to the Caribbean in March, the Sri Lanka selectors have recalled him.

Jayasuriya has scored 336 runs in 10 innings for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.

Only five players in the IPL have a better aggregate.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Warwickshire
Warwickshire fans' views on 606
BBC Birmingham sport
BBC Coventry & Warwicks sport
Edgbaston weather
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites