Side strain rules Punjab batsman Maxwell out of IPL

Kings XI Punjab's Glenn Maxwell on Tuesday became the fifth Australian cricketer to be ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after the swashbuckling batsman complained of a side strain.

Maxwell will miss the final two league matches of his franchise, which is already out of the race to the play-offs.

The right-hander is expected to be fit in time for next month's tour of the West Indies for the One-Day International (ODI) tri-series with the Windies and South Africa.

"Glenn reported increasing soreness in his left abdomen area following last night's match and as such a decision was made for him to return home for further assessment and treatment ahead of the West Indies tour," Australian physiotherapist David Beakley said in a statement.

"From the information we have so far, the injury doesn't appear to be something that will prevent Glenn from participating in this tour. But we are keen to give him the necessary time to recover before departing to the West Indies at the end of this month," he added.

The 27-year-old thus joins his captain Steve Smith, Marsh brothers Shaun and Mitch, pacer John Hastings in the list of cricketers who have been IPL casualties during this edition.

--IANS

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