Luke Wright out of World T20 with side strain

Luke Wright, the England allrounder, has been ruled out of the World Twenty20 with a side strain. Wicketkeeper-batsman Craig Kieswetter has been brought in as Wright's replacement.

Wright had been carrying the injury for a while, but the news of his unavailability came only on the morning of England's first game - they play New Zealand in Chittagong on Saturday evening - in the World T20. Wright is England's second most-capped player in T20s and has been first-choice No. 3 since the last World T20 but had lost form of late, making single-figure scores in each of his last nine international innings.

Kieswetter has played 25 T20Is for England, the last of which was at the previous World T20 in September 2012. His last competitive cricket was in the Big Bash League in Australia, in December and January, where he scored 192 in eight matches for Brisbane Heat, at a strike rate of 116.36. He was one of the leading run-scorers in last season's domestic T20 in England.

England's other main injury worry remains captain Stuart Broad, who has had an issue with his knee. He is, however, believed to have recovered enough to play against New Zealand.

Absolutely gutted to be leaving the World Cup injured. Hard to take but silver lining is I will now be at the birth of my second child.

— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) March 22, 2014

Wright's injury means that three players have now been withdrawn from England's initial 15-man squad for the World T20. Joe Root fractured a thumb playing against West Indies earlier this month and Ben Stokes broke a bone in his wrist punching a locker in frustration on the same tour.