Middlesex sign up Gilchirst, set sight on Tendulkar

English county club Middlesex have signed up Adam Gilchrist for next season's Twenty20 Cup and are now looking to get Sachin Tendulkar on board as well.

Tendulkar is mulling over the offer to form a dynamic partnership with Gilchrist at the top of the order. But Tendulkar needs an approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) but the Middlesex chief executive, Vinny Codrington is hopeful of signing up the player soon.

"Adam has signed for the group matches of next season's Twenty20 but has other commitments and is unable to commit beyond that at this stage," Codrington was quoted as saying in the English media.

"We have been in discussions with Sachin and his agent for quite a while but he has been concentrating on the one-day series against Australia and the current Test match against Sri Lanka. He has been pretty tied up so we are waiting to hear from him and hope for some news soon," he added.

Both Tendulkar and Gilchirst have retired from Twenty20 international but are the respective captains for Mumbai Indians and Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

"One thing I have not done in my career is play in the county system. When Middlesex came to me with the idea, it appealed to me. Obviously, when I retired from international cricket, I didn't think this kind of opportunity would come along. To play for such a famous club and at such a famous ground means I am thrilled to do it," Gilchirst was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

Last updated on Nov 19^th, 2009 at 19:58 pm IST--IANS