Worcestershire have responded to Saeed Ajmal’s Pakistan call-up by signing Sri Lanka spinner Sachithra Senanayake.
Ajmal was expected to return to Worcestershire and bolster their bowling attack for the start of their LV= County Championship Division One campaign.
But, having received the all-clear to resume bowling in international cricket in February, he will now be required for his country’s squad for the tour of Bangladesh, which starts this month, and therefore may not be available until the second half of the season.
It is the second instance in three days in which a county has had to find alternative arrangements at short notice for an overseas signing after Yorkshire pulled the plug on a deal for Younus Khan following the batsman’s desire to represent Pakistan against the Tigers.
While the White Rose snared the services of Chesteshwar Pujara, Worcestershire have moved quickly to snap up Senanayake, subject to visa approval and receipt of a no-objection certificate from Sri Lanka.
The 30-year-old, who was given the go-ahead to resume bowling on the world stage last December, has played 45 one-day internationals, 17 Twenty20s and one Test for the islanders.
Senanayake has a stunning record in domestic first-class cricket, claiming 376 scalps at an average of just 19.69 in 71 matches, including 32 five-wicket hauls.
Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: "With Saeed Ajmal's situation, it is always difficult with so much international cricket being played around the world and suddenly tours do come around.
"The one of Bangladesh is a late agreement to tour so it meant we've had to find a replacement.
"But we are very happy with Senanayake, a proven international player. He has played a lot of games in the shorter formats for Sri Lanka, not a lot of the Test matches, but his first-class record is excellent.
"He has got a really good ratio of five-wicket hauls and, when you are looking at replacing a strike bowler like Saeed, you need someone who can take wickets and he is proven at that.
"What we did enjoy last year was a really good balance of our attack with having a spin bowler who could bowl plenty of overs in Saeed.
"His great strength was how he could keep it tight but also attack and we are very optimistic a player like Senanayake can do something similar.
"That way then we can rotate the other seam bowlers at the other end and they know that formula works so there is quite a confidence in the bowling group that type of formula will work.
"Last year one of the things that worked particularly well was trying to knock over some of the top order and get the middle order and tail exposed to a top international spinner."
With Senanayake’s only Test appearance arriving against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in December 2013, Rhodes believes he will be hungry to impress at New Road.
The Yorkshireman added: "He has got a lot to prove regarding his four-day cricket because he wants desperately to get into that Test side and he has never played in England before so there are a lot of positives about picking up a player at the right time.
"I try to sign hungry players because if they've got a desire to succeed and improve themselves then they are the right person for Worcestershire. We're giving him a platform of first-class cricket to impress."