LAHORE: Quetta Gladiators have been dealt an injury blow with West Indies all-rounder Sunil Narine unavailable for the start of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) due to a finger injury.

Off-spinner Narine, who was part of a blockbuster pre-season trade between Quetta Gladiators and Lahore Qalandars, is nursing a finger injury which he aggravated during the recently-concluded BPL, said the information made here on Tuesday by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Narine, 30, will be seeing his medical team immediately and, depending on medical advice, is expected to join the squad later on in the tournament.

“We hope to have Narine with us as soon as possible because he is a true match winner,” 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 the League.”

To cover for this injury, Gladiators have called up Somerset leg-spinner Max Waller.

Obviously, you cannot 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 Moin.

The Gladiators start their PSL campaign on Feb 15 when they face last year’s finalists Peshawar Zalmi.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2019