Mascarenhas to replace Malinga for Tasmania

Tasmania has signed England all rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas as a replacement for Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga as the team's international signing for this summer's Twenty20 Big Bash competition.

Cricket Tasmania operations general manager David Boon said the go-ahead of a previously doubtful one-day tour in Bangladesh has prevented Malinga from playing for Tasmania.

"When Malinga was first signed we knew this was a possibility and although it is disappointing, we have a suitable back-up player in Dimitri Mascarenhas who will arrive in Hobart during December," The Daily Telegraph quoted Boon, as saying.

The 32-year-old has made 14 Twenty20 international appearances for England.

Tasmania will play their first Twenty20 game on December 30 at Bellerive Oval against New South Wales.