Delhi Daredevils will miss the services of AB de Villiers in their Champions League campaign as Cricket South Africa (CSA) has withdrawn the middle-order batsman from the Twenty20 tournament due to a lower back pain.
After consultation with the Board's medical committee, the CSA decided to restrict de Villiers from participating in all forms of competitive cricket for the next four to six weeks.
"AB de Villiers developed left lumbar pain, four weeks ago, during preparation for the Champions Trophy tournament," Shuaib Manjra, Chairman of CSA's medical committee, said in a statement.
"We have thus decided to withdraw AB from all cricketing activities for the next four to six weeks in order to allow for proper management of his condition and prevent further injury," he said.
The Champions League begins on October 8 and will culminate on October 23.
De Villiers is the second South African player to be ruled out of the Champions League after skipper Graeme Smith, nursing a leg injury, pulled out of the Cape Cobras squad for the $2.4 million event to ensure that he is fit for England's tour of South Africa next month.
De Villiers was the top run-getter for Daredevils in the IPL-II in South Africa.
"I am obviously disappointed to miss the Champions League. But I wish the Daredevils all the best for the tournament," de Villiers said.
Bracken out too
Nursing a knee-injury, Australian left-arm pacer Nathan Bracken will have to sit out of the Champions League Twenty20 tournament to undergo a surgery.
A regular in Australia's ODI squad, Bracken was ruled out of the Champions Trophy after being sent home from South Africa following his right knee injury.
"Following consultation with knee specialists, Nathan has been booked in for arthroscopic surgery next week," Cricket Australia Doctor Trefor James said.
"His progress following surgery will be monitored for a return to training in due course," he added.
The 32-year-old Bracken was scheduled to participate in the $2.4 million Champions League as a part of New South Wales squad but this injury means he will not tour for the twenty20 tournament next week.
"We have ruled him out of the Champions League. He will be in contact with Australia in terms of whether he is available for the ODI series in India," Cricket New South Wales spokesman David Townsend said.
