Scottish Saltires eye Sanath Jayasuriya

Sanath Jayasuriya could follow Muttiah Muralitharan to England next summer having been approached by the Scottish Saltires who are looking for a top-quality overseas star for their third season in the Totesport League Two.

"There are one or two big names who are interested in coming over. Jayasuriya is one of several we are talking to," Saltires skipper Craig White was quoted as saying on BBC Online. Marvan Atapattu, Sri Lanka's skipper, had also been approached. Sri Lanka are taking a break from international cricket from February to mid-July next year creating a window of opportunity for their players to play a half-season in England. Sri Lanka's cricket board is encouraging the players to go to gain valuable experience.

The main stumbling block to the Jayasuriya deal will be money. Scotland lack the financial muscle of the counties and a deal with Rahul Dravid in their first season was only clinched after assistance from the Indian expatriate community in Scotland.

Scotland are keen to wrap up the deal as soon as possible: "Obviously we would like to be able to make a decision as soon as possible, because it would encourage season-ticket package sales and create a buzz," admitted White.

Muralitharan signed for Lancashire earlier in the week for a third season after stints in 1999 and 2001 and Mohan de Silva, Sri Lanka's cricket board president, hopes that it will pave the way for more players securing county contracts in the coming months.

"I hope Murali's signing paves the way for more Sri Lankan cricketers to have stints with counties," said de Silva. "The contrasting conditions could only make a player better." Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara are both being sought contracts by former England batsman Neil Fairbrother, who works with a leading sports agency called International Sports Management, the UK agents for Muralitharan.