Injury-hit New Zealand received another setback Wednesday when theirpremier batsman Nathan Astle was ruled out of further participation onthe current tour

25-Apr-2002Injury-hit New Zealand received another setback Wednesday when theirpremier batsman Nathan Astle was ruled out of further participation onthe current tour.Team manager Ross Dykes said Astle had a knee injury and would beflying home from Lahore Friday. He will be replaced by Mathew Sinclairfor the remaining part of the tour but would not be considered forselection for Saturday’s final One-day International at GaddafiStadium.”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 butadded that it wasn’t known if it was serious enough. “He had scantests yesterday (Tuesday) and it proved that his knees wanted muchmore investigations in New Zealand.”Astle, 31, who has played 51 Tests and 153 One-day Internationals, hadtaken active part in Tuesday’s training session.Dykes said it was premature to say if Astle would be fit for NewZealand’s July trip to the West Indies. “It is far too early to say ifhe would be available. But we would at least like to see him fit forSeptember’s ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka.”Dykes said the team management was concerned with the growing list ofcasualties. “But we have to make the best of what is available.”Astle, who stroked the quickest double century in Test cricket lastmonth against England, said: “It is very disappointing. I have beenlucky 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 onetroubled him for the last two days.Pakistan coach Mudassar Nazar was surprised with the news and mincedno words in saying that Astle’s withdrawal would take the gloss offthe forthcoming Test series.”He is a class act and must be heartbreaking for him. It is sad thatthe spectators would not be able to see the best of Astle. “I agreethat New Zealand will now be very weak after the latest injury blow,but we need to stay composed and concentrate hard. We can’t takethings for granted,” he said.