Tasmania signs slinger Malinga

Sri Lankan paceman Lasith Malinga will play for Tasmania in this summer's domestic Twenty20 competition.

Tasmania announced the signing on Thursday, using the $50,000 allocated by Cricket Australia (CA) to each state to lure overseas players to the tournament.

The 25-year-old Malinga, who bowls with a unique slinging action, will join fellow internationals Dwayne Bravo (Victoria) and Chris Gayle (Western Australia) in the competition.

Tigers coach Tim Coyle says Malinga will be a huge asset in the short-form game.

"Twenty20 cricket is a such a hard game for bowlers and it's so batsman-friendly, but he is a guy who has actually found a way to dominate with the ball pretty regularly," he said.

"He is fast, he bowls fantastic yorkers, he's got a good change of pace and the research we have done, he is a fantastic fellow as well."