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The Champions League Twenty20 suffered a blow on Tuesday when international players Dwayne Bravo and Jonny Bairstow were ruled out because of injuries.
Bravo, who was part of the West Indies' World T20-winning team on Sunday, has a thigh strain and will be replaced in the Chennai Super Kings squad by Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Kulasekara.
Chennai were also forced to make another change because of injury, with left-arm spinner Shadab Jakati coming in for Anirudh Srikkanth, who will be out of action for six weeks following a fracture to his right clavicle, after a fall during in a domestic cricket match last week.
England international Bairstow, who also played in the World T20, also won't be turning out for Yorkshire due to a wrist injury sustained at the World T20. The 18-year-old left-hand wicketkeeper-batsman Ed Wilson has been called up as Bairstow's replacement.
There is another change for Sri Lankan Premier League champions UVA Next with batsman Upul Tharanga ruled out due to a broken finger. His place in the squad is taken by former Sri Lankan under-19 captain Ashan Priyanjana.
Earlier, South Africa's limited-overs captain AB de Villiers was ruled out of the tournament with a double injury. His compatriot, pace bowler Marchant de Lange is also unavailable because of a lower-back stress fracture.
Delhi Daredevils also have a replacement, with Aavishkar Salvi replacing Varun Aaron after the 22-year-old India international was advised he will need to have a tonsillectomy.
The T20 tournament, which features the top clubs from around the world, begins in South Africa on October 9 with the qualifying matches. The main tournament begins on Saturday, October 13, with local favourties Titans taking on Perth Scorchers from Australia at 1700 IST.
In the day's second match, IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders take on Delhi Daredevils at 2100 IST.
Photograph: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com