Injury KOs Sarwan from NZ Tour

Ramnaresh Sarwan's tour of New Zealand is over.

The West Indies vice captain sustained a muscle tear in the left thigh while fielding during the third One Day International in Christchurch and will return to the Caribbean imediately. With adequate batting cover (Runako Morton and Devon Smith) in the squad, no replacement for Sarwan has been requested.

A statement from the team operations unit said Sarwan exacerbated the muscle tear while fielding in the second innings of the first Test match at Eden Park.

After playing through the first test with a degree of pain in the left thigh and exacerbating the tear, team physiotherapist Stephen Partridge and team management, in the discussion with the right-hander, decided to quit the series.

"This is particularly to concentrate on recovery and rehabilitation with the impending Digicel 2006 Home Series against Zimbabwe and India in mind," the team said.

Sarwan will return to the Caribbean this week. Sarwan has been provided with a rehabilitation program by Partridge which he will undergo upon his return to the Caribbean.

There was no word on the future participation of pacer Jerome Taylor, who sustained a hamstring injury in the first Test.