Worcestershire have confirmed Saeed Ajmal will not be playing for them in this year's Friends Life t20 campaign due to Pakistan commitments.
The county had hoped Ajmal would be able to return to New Road for a second spell, but with his country's proposed tour of Sri Lanka now confirmed, the Royals have begun the search for a second overseas player to complement Australian opener Phil Hughes.
"Following the recent announcement that Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka will proceed, Saeed Ajmal will be unavailable for Worcestershire Friends Life t20 campaign," read a club statement.
"Ajmal had signed a contract to appear in Worcestershire's T20 run at a time when the Pakistan tour to Sri Lanka was not agreed in the ICC schedule.
"But it is now understood that it is likely to take place between late May and mid-July 2012, ruling Ajmal out of the county's T20 campaign."
Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes added: "Losing a player of Saeed's quality is a big disappointment. However, we are extremely active in finding a replacement for the Twenty20."
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