Astle's injury adds to Kiwi misfortunes

Injury-hit New Zealand received another setback Wednesday when their premier batsman Nathan Astle was ruled out of further participation on the current tour.

Team manager Ross Dykes said Astle had a knee injury and would be flying home from Lahore Friday. He will be replaced by Mathew Sinclair for the remaining part of the tour but would not be considered for selection for Saturday's final One-day International at Gaddafi Stadium.

"Astle has torn a tendon in his left knee which was diagnosed Tuesday. It is serious enough to demand immediate attention," Dykes said.

Dykes said Astle's knees were sore for the last couple of weeks but added that it wasn't known if it was serious enough. "He had scan tests yesterday (Tuesday) and it proved that his knees wanted much more investigations in New Zealand."

Astle, 31, who has played 51 Tests and 153 One-day Internationals, had taken active part in Tuesday's training session.

Dykes said it was premature to say if Astle would be fit for New Zealand's July trip to the West Indies. "It is far too early to say if he would be available. But we would at least like to see him fit for September's ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka."

Dykes said the team management was concerned with the growing list of casualties. "But we have to make the best of what is available."

Astle, who stroked the quickest double century in Test cricket last month against England, said: "It is very disappointing. I have been lucky never to have any injuries. But this is the biggest blow."

He said he had bad knees "for a while" and added that the left one troubled him for the last two days.

Pakistan coach Mudassar Nazar was surprised with the news and minced no words in saying that Astle's withdrawal would take the gloss off the forthcoming Test series.

"He is a class act and must be heartbreaking for him. It is sad that the spectators would not be able to see the best of Astle. "I agree that New Zealand will now be very weak after the latest injury blow, but we need to stay composed and concentrate hard. We can't take things for granted," he said.