Watson suffers abdominal injury ahead of World T20

Karachi : With just one month left to Australia’s opening match of the World Twenty20, all-rounder Shane Watson has been ruled out of the ongoing inaugural edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) due to an abdominal injury.

The 34-year-old suffered the injury while bowling during his side Islamabad United’s seven-wicket defeat against Zalmi.

Watson was earlier included in the 15-man squad following his brilliant performance in the third and the final T20 against India at the SCG, where he smashed 124 off just 71 balls.

Reflecting on his injury, Watson posted a video on the Islamabad United Twitter account and said that he was heading back home for further medication.

“Disappointingly I’m going to have to head home back to Australia to get assessed with the medical people back at Cricket Australia to try and get right for the Twenty20 World Cup,” Watson was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Islamabad have drafted Azhar Mahmood as Watson’s replacement for the remaining matches of the PSL.

The T20 pinnacle event is slated to be held in India between March 8 to April 3 and Australia will play the opening match against New Zealand on March 18. (ANI)