West Indies opener Chris Gayle will miss the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League tournament due to a severe groin strain according to reports.
Gayle who was named as the icon player and skipper of Uva Next was among the star players of the tournament which begins this Friday (10) in Colombo.
In addition to Gayle two more overseas players - Pakistan's Abdur Rehman and West Indies' Fidel Edwards – are also said to be withdrawing from the tournament.
Earlier Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan had to back out after the Bangladesh Cricket Board failed to release him for the tournament.
Among probable other withdrawals, Marlon Samuels’ name has been drawn but his unavailability is yet to be confirmed.
Uva have replaced Gayle and Rehman with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fawad Alam and Jacob Oram.
Meanwhile Uthura Rudras have drawn up in Kyle Mills and Australia batsman Rob Quiney in place of Al Hasan and Edwards.
