Twenty20 batting sensation Thilkaratne Dilshan has been signed by New Zealand’s Northern Districts Cricket Association (NDCricket) for the 2009-10 season. TM Dilshan will play for the Northern Knights in New Zealand’s domestic Twenty20 competition.
The Sri Lankan was the highest runs scorer at the recent ICC Twenty20 World Cup in England, at an average of 52 runs per innings and a strike rate of 144. In the IPL in South Africa he was the 5th highest run scorer, averaging 42 runs per innings at a strike rate of 122.
NDCricket CEO, David Cooper said “TM Dilshan is arguably the best Twenty20 batsman going in world cricket at the moment. It is a significant move for us to sign him and have him coming out to New Zealand. We believe that his presence will assist our team and our players in much the same way Andrew Strauss did in early 2008. I have no doubt New Zealand crowds will enjoy watching him too.”
TM Dilshan is currently involved in the Sri Lanka versus Pakistan test series, his manager Roshan Abeysinghe said “Thilkaratne is delighted to be joining the Northern Knights.”
The move by TM Dilshan will see him playing alongside BLACKCAP captain Daniel Vettori.
