Finger injury puts Sunil Narine's PSL participation in doubt

Sunil Narine was traded to Quetta Gladiators from Lahore Qalandars. © Getty

Sunil Narine will miss the start of Pakistan Super League 2019 due to a finger injury which he aggravated during the recently-concluded Bangladesh Premier League. The 30-year-old's participation for the rest of the tournament is subject to results of a medical examination.

Narine was snapped by Quetta Gladiators from Lahore Qalandars in the pre-season trade. His absence will be a blow for the Gladiators who buit a spin unit around him with Fawad Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, and Mohammad Asghar potentially bowling around him. The mystery spinner has 10 wickets in nine PSL matches at an average of 20.40. Gladiators have called up Somerset leg-spinner Max Waller as his cover.

"Obviously, you cannot like for like replacement of a big player like Narine but we have drafted in Waller and we are confident that he will add value to our team," said Quetta Gladiators coach Moin Khan.

"It's a blow just before the start of PSL but we will try to cope with it. We have got the depth in our squad as there are plenty other match-winners. We wish Narine a quick recovery and hope to welcome him very soon during HBL PSL."

Gladiators begin their PSL 2019 campaign on February 15 when they take on last year's runners-up Peshawar Zalmi.