Sunil Narine unavailable for Finals Day, opts to stay in MLC

Narine had been ever-present for Surrey, scoring 203 runs and taking 20 wickets, but has opted against making the 9,000-mile round trip from Dallas. Under ECB regulations, Surrey cannot bring in an overseas replacement

Surrey will be without the services of Sunil Narine at T20 Blast Finals Day, with the West Indian spinner instead prioritising his Major League Cricket commitments.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Surrey had expected Narine to play at Edgbaston before immediately returning to Dallas to represent Los Angeles Knight Riders, who are playing in the tournament opener against Texas Super Kings on July 14 and again on July 16.

However, the club have since been informed that he will not make the 9,000-mile round trip, leaving them with Sean Abbott as their only overseas player for the Blast showpiece.

Under ECB regulations, players must be registered to a county in the group stages in order to feature in the knockout stages, meaning Surrey cannot parachute in a late overseas replacement.

^{Narine has been a threat with bat and ball for Surrey [Ben Hoskins/Getty Images]}

Director of cricket, Alec Stewart, said: "We were aware when we signed Sunil for the T20 Blast that he could be unavailable for Finals Day due to his pre-signed contract with the Knight Riders in the MLC.

"However, all of the subsequent conversations with the various parties since he arrived for the group games and leading into this week were that we would have his back for Saturday, so it's disappointing and frustrating to lose a player of Sunil's quality at such late notice.

"Sunil's absence now presents a great opportunity for another player to come into the team and make an impact at Edgbaston this weekend."

Narine had been ever-present for Surrey in the Blast this season, taking 20 wickets with an economy of 7.76 and scoring 203 runs at a strike rate of 159.84.

Surrey will face Somerset in the semi-finals at Edgbaston as they bid to win their first T20 Blast crown since 2003.