Murali Kartik signs Lancashire contract

LONDON: Left-arm spinner Murali Kartik has signed a short-term contract with the Lancashire cricket county and will play his first match on Saturday against Sussex in the C&G Trophy final.

Kartik, due to arrive in Manchester on Tuesday, will play in a floodlit Twenty20 match between Lancashire and England at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, in aid of Andrew Flintoff's testimonial year, according to 'The Guardian'.

The Indian, who took 16 wickets in two matches for the county to help secure promotion to the First Division last season, will be their second overseas player for the next fortnight, during which he will also play a four-day match against Warwickshire next Wednesday.

The Railways players will replace Brad Hodge.