Injured Arafat to miss rest of BBL

Perth Scorchers will be without Yasir Arafat for the rest of the season, due to a thumb injury. The Pakistan seamer injured his right thumb - his bowling hand - when he dived to field the ball during their game against Adelaide Strikers on Thursday.

Arafat ruptured a ligament but continued to bowl despite his injury. He will undergo surgery later this week and will miss the rest of the BBL, the franchise stated in a release.

Tournament regulations state that Arafat cannot be replaced by another overseas player as he was already a replacement for the West Indies batsman Dwayne Smith, their original international signing.

Arafat is the Scorchers' leading wicket-taker this season with 12 wickets in six games with a best of 4 for 24. He starred in the match against Sydney Sixers, taking 2 for 1 in the One-Over Eliminator to hand his side the victory.