England’s Stuart Broad has been ruled out of the World Cup with a side strain, the England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed.
The seamer, 24, suffered the injury during the win over South Africa on Sunday, when he starred by taking 4-15.
“Scans have confirmed a significant side strain injury,” said ECB chief medical officer Dr Nick Peirce.
A replacement has not been chosen but Chris Tremlett, who is on standby with the squad, is the likely candidate.
Broad’s absence is the second blow for England in as many days following Kevin Pietersen’s withdrawal.
Batsman Pietersen requires hernia surgery, and has now returned to England and been replaced by Eoin Morgan.
An ECB statement confirmed Broad will also leave the squad, which is currently based in Chittagong ahead of Friday’s Group B match against Bangladesh, for further assessment in the UK.
The statement continued: “Any participation in the forthcoming IPL [Indian Premier League] will be determined according to his rehabilitation timescale established in due course.”
Broad missed the final three Tests of England’s Ashes victory this winter because of an abdominal tear, however, the ECB revealed his latest setback, which he first felt during his second spell on the way to his four-wicket haul in Chennai, is a “new injury”.
“Stuart felt some discomfort following the South Africa match and our initial assessment indicated a strain to his left side,” the statement added.
“Subsequent scans have confirmed a significant side strain injury – where the muscle attaches the rib.”
Before the scans Broad had feared the worst, admitting his chances of featuring in the remainder of England’s tournament “did not look great”.
“I’ve not had a side strain in this manner before,” he added. “It’s quite a common injury for bowlers.
“I felt a little bit tight during the South Africa game. It started to throb a little bit throughout my second spell.
“Then after the game it stiffened up when the adrenaline was out of my body.”
Broad, though, rejected the suggestion that England’s heavy winter schedule in Australia before the World Cup, which featured a five-Test Ashes series, seven one-day internationals and two Twenty20 games over a three-month period, was to blame for their injury problems.
