Collingwood out of Champions League with torn muscle

Published on Tuesday 6 October 2009 22:54

ENGLAND all-rounder Paul Collingwood has been withdrawn from the lucrative Champions League because of a torn muscle in one of his buttocks.

Collingwood, 33, was due to play for his Indian Premier League franchise Delhi Daredevils in the two-week club tournament, which starts tomorrow.

But a scan revealed a grade two tear in one of his gluteal muscles, and he has been pulled out of Delhi’s 15-man squad on medical grounds. The injury – similar to the one which kept his England colleague Stuart Broad out of the Champions Trophy semi-final defeat against Australia last Friday – is not expected to affect Collingwood’s participation at the start of the tour to South Africa next month.

“It’s anticipated with rest and rehabilitation, he will be available for the tour of South Africa,” an England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman said.

Collingwood suffered the injury during his innings of 34 against the Australians. “We have a contract with the IPL about making our players available. However, Collingwood has picked up a little niggle in his buttock,” revealed coach Andy Flower, before England left South Africa at the weekend. “It is a genuine injury. We don’t know how bad it is, but he definitely did something when he played one of his first pull shots on Friday against Australia. He actually struggled through the game with that problem. It is not in any way trying to get him rest.”

Collingwood is the third of Delhi’s international brigade to pull out in the past week, following injuries to South Africa’s AB de Villiers (back) and New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori (hamstring). The withdrawals will increase the likelihood of England one-day batsman Owais Shah featuring prominently. Neither Collingwood nor Shah featured for Delhi during their stints at the second season of the IPL earlier this year.

The Daredevils have sought permission from the CL organisers to replace Collingwood with Yogesh Nagar – while Australian veteran Glenn McGrath is to be registered in Vettori’s place, subject to the necessary approval.

Although not as lucrative as the IPL itself, players on the winning side in the global 20-over club competition are expected to pocket 80,000. The inaugural champions receive a cheque for $2.5million, which is split between the club or franchise and its playing staff.