Sri Lanka commitments cast doubt on Lancashire new boy Kumar Sangakkara

Lancashire's signing of Sri Lanka's captain Kumar Sangakkara has been thrown into doubt by Sri Lankan efforts to host India for a five-week tour in the middle of the English county season. Sangakkara's arrival in England was already due to be delayed until mid-June because of Asian Cup commitments — and his involvement at all must now be questioned after Sri Lanka's belated decision to extend their international commitments. Nishantha Ranatunga, the Sri Lanka Cricket secretary, said: "The Test series with India is almost certain of coming through. We are also awaiting confirmation from India and New Zealand on a tri-nation series." Provisional dates suggest that Sangakkara's arrival could be delayed until mid-August, which would leave Lancashire forced to abandon plans to put him at the heart of their plans in one-day cricket next season. If India refuse to tour, Sri Lanka would be likely to abandon attempts to fill the blanks in their schedule which leaves them without international cricket until the end of 2010. But the Indian board rarely take decisions quickly — and that could leave Lancashire in limbo for several weeks to come. The only positive development, from Lancashire's point of view, is that the Asia Cup in June might be postponed because a clash with football's World Cup makes it commercially unviable. That decision could come by the end of the month. Until then, Lancashire have signed an overseas player who, through no fault of his own, has no idea when he might be available.