Lancashire have signed Sri Lanka all-rounder Farveez Maharoof as their overseas player for the 2011 county season.
All-rounder signs up for the entirety of the upcoming season
Lancashire have signed Sri Lanka all-rounder Farveez Maharoof as their overseas player for the 2011 county season.
Maharoof has played in 20 Tests and 91 one-day internationals for his country but has fallen out of favour in recent times.
With no international commitments in the near future, the 26-year-old will, therefore, be available to the Red Rose county for the entire domestic summer.
The player himself is hoping a stint playing county cricket in England will help rekindle his international career.
He said: "I am really looking to playing for such a great club like Lancashire and excited by the challenge of contributing towards a successful season.
"I've had a good domestic season in Sri Lanka and I believe a season of county cricket will be a fantastic learning experience that will help me develop as a player."
Real desire
Lancashire cricket director Mike Watkinson has praised Maharoof for showing a "real desire" to move to England.
"Farveez is a very experienced cricketer and is still relatively young," he said.
"He's shown a real desire to come and play for us this coming season and we look forward to welcoming him on board."
The county had previously warned their supporters that they may not have an overseas signing for this year due to financial constraints.
They recently received the all-clear to proceed with the redevelopment of their Old Trafford ground after a High Court ruling found in their favour in the face of a legal challenge from Derwent Holdings.
The redevelopment will see the capacity of the venue - which was opened in May 1857 and first staged Test cricket in 1884 - increased to 15,000 by the addition of two new grandstands, with the scope for that to rise to 25,000 with the use of temporary seating.
