Jason Roy forfeits England contract to play in new US T20 cricket league

• He is first current England international to sign up
• Roy and ECB insist national side is his priority

Jason Roy will become the first current England player to sign up for the inaugural Major League Cricket (MLC) competition in the US after forfeiting the final months of his contract with the ECB, having first secured reassurance that the move will not endanger his chances of international selection. Roy has been offered a two-year deal by Los Angeles Knight Riders and will travel to the US at the end of Surrey's T20 Blast campaign.

I hope to play for England for many more years, that remains my priority," Roy wrote in a statement. It benefits me as an England player to play as much competitive cricket as possible. Just to be clear, my priority is England cricket, especially with a World Cup soon upon us."