Dilshan to play in New Zealand Twenty20

Wellington, New Zealand:

Sri Lanka cricket star Tillakaratne Dilshan will play for Northern Districts province in New Zealand's domestic Twenty20 competition next summer.

Dilshan, 32, was top run-scorer at the Twenty20 World Cup in England last month and was described by Northern Districts chief executive David Cooper as "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," Cooper said Friday.

"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."

Dilshan will join a Northern Districts side which includes New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori for the Twenty20 competition which begins in late December.