Dilshan to join Guyana Amazon Warriors

Tillakaratne Dilshan has become the fifth Sri Lanka player to sign up with the inaugural Caribbean Premier League. He will join Guyana Amazon Warriors as a replacement for the injured New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill, who broke a bone in his right hand in the match against Antigua Hawksbills on August 17.

Dilshan will join his Sri Lanka team-mate Lasith Malinga, who is also with Guyana. The other Sri Lanka players in the CPL are Muttiah Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakkara (Jamaica Tallawahs) and Mahela Jayawardene (Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel).

Guyana coach Roger Harper said: "While it is sad to lose a player of Martin Guptill's ability at this stage of the tournament, we are delighted to have secured a top-quality replacement in Tillakaratne Dilshan.

"He offers so much to any side he plays for, as an attacking batsman, a useful bowler and also someone who is outstanding in the field. We look forward to him linking up with us ahead of Thursday's semi-final and his big-match experience will be a great asset to us."

Guyana topped the points table after the league stage and will meet Trinidad & Tobago in the first semi-final in Port -of-Spain on August 22.

Dilshan has had some practice in the Twenty20 format of late, with two international games against South Africa followed by three in the Sri Lankan domestic Super 4's tournament.