Surrey in negotiations with Lara for Twenty20 return

London, Apr 16(ANI): The Surrey County Club is in negotiations with former West Indies captain Brian Lara to play in the Friends Provident Twenty20 tournament, which starts in June.

Lara, who has not played competitive cricket for two years and retired from international duty after the 2007 World Cup, has been in the nets at The Oval and has begun talks with Surrey Chief Executive Paul Sheldon and manager Chris Adams.We are talking to Brian about a possible future role in the club,” The Telegraph quoted Sheldon, as saying.

“However, we have no further comment to make at this stage,” he added.

A short-term contract with Surrey might appeal to Lara, who is understood to be seeking a contract in next year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).

Surrey has already Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds and Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla may also be available, depending on his commitments for his country.

A possible signing by Surrey should help to raise the profile of England’s Twenty20 competition after plans to create a Premier League, known as P20, failed. (ANI)