WORCESTERSHIRE have signed Sri Lankan spinner Sachithra Senanayake as an early-season overseas replacement for Saeed Ajmal.

Saeed was yesterday named in the Pakistan Test, one-day international and T20 squads for the tour of Bangladesh during this month and next, meaning he may not be available until the second half of the campaign.

Senanayake, who has played in 45 ODIs, 17 T20 internationals and one Test for his country, will move to New Road subject to visa approval and receipt of a no objection certificate from Sri Lanka.

The 30-year-old has a proilific record in first-class cricket with 376 wickets in 71 games — an average of 5.29 wickets per match — plus 198 List ‘A’ wickets at an economy rate of 4.01.

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.”

Senanayake’s only Test appearance to date was against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in December 2013.

Rhodes said: “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 then they are the right person for Worcestershire.

Pakistan will play three ODI’s on April 17, 19 and 22, a single T20 international on April 24, as well as two Tests beginning on April 28 and May 6 respectively.