Tendulkar is the leading runscorer in Test and ODI cricket history

India batsman Sachin Tendulkar will not be joining Middlesex for this year's Twenty20 campaign.

The county had been in negotiations with the 36-year-old in the hope that he would line up alongside Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.

But chief executive Vinny Codrington said: "Sachin wished to concentrate on prolonging his international career.

"He believed the additional workload of playing for Middlesex would place too much pressure on his busy schedule."

Tendulkar is the leading runscorer in both Test and one-day international history.

His only spell in county cricket came in 1992 when, as a 19-year-old, he became the first overseas player to represent Yorkshire.

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"Sachin was very open and honest with us and went to lengths to express how much consideration he had given to the opportunity," added Codrington.

"It's a real shame we have been unable to reach a satisfactory outcome to our discussions with him."

Gilchrist, 38, signed a deal to play for Middlesex in the shortest form of the game in November.

The county have also secured the services of former New Zealand paceman Iain O'Brien and are close to signing South African seamer Makhaya Ntini as a Kolpak player.

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