PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Trinidad and Tobago fast bowler, Ravi Rampaul, will miss this year's Caribbean T20 tournament due to injury, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) announced yesterday.

The confirmation follows earlier statements from manager Omar Khan suggesting that Rampaul was back in training after overcoming a knee injury and passing a fitness test.

However, Khan has since confirmed that Rampaul skipped Wednesday's planned training because of a doctor's appointment

Khan has indicated that after the test and during the net session, Ravi pulled up complaining of pain in the knee and sat out the rest of the session.

Meanwhile, allrounder Rayad Emrit has been approved by WICB Technical Committee to replace Rampaul after a request from the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board.

Emrit, 31, is a right-handed batsman and right-arm seamer who has represented the defending champions in all formats for a decade.

Local media reports have said that another MRI scan has shown that there's still a problem with the patella in Rampaul's right knee.

Bowling attack

Dr Anil Gopeesingh is said to have recommended more rest for the West Indies pacer who has a hectic international schedule ahead of him.

Rampaul's absence would be seen as a blow to the T&T's bowling attack, as they prepare to begin the defence of their T20 title with a tournament opener against Jamaica on Sunday.

Rampaul was a member of the Trinidad & Tobago team which won the Caribbean T20 last year as well as the West Indies team which won the ICC World T20 in Sri Lanka last year.