GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

THE WEST Indies suffered a setback to their Cricket World Cup plans yesterday, when batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan was ruled out for three weeks with a hand injury.

The 26-year-old West Indies vice-captain sustained a chipped bone in his right thumb after being struck by Barbados pacer Fidel Edwards on the opening day of the final-round Carib Beer Series match between Guyana and Barbados at Bourda Monday.

"I am very disappointed. I was looking forward to the final four (of the KFC Cup) and preparing for the World Cup," Sarwan said.

He said he hoped the injury healed quickly, especially with the Cricket World Cup taking place next month.

Sarwan had made 18 in the Guyana innings when he failed to negotiate a rising delivery from Edwards and was struck on the glove.

He received treatment on the field from Barbados' physiotherapist Jacqui King-Mowatt and continued to bat thereafter before retiring hurt at tea.

Taken to hospital

Sarwan was taken to hospital for a precautionary X-ray where the extent of the injury was revealed.

It is the second injury setback for Sarwan in recent times. He was forced out of the tour of Pakistan late last year when he fractured a bone in his foot after being struck on his instep by pacer Umar Gul.

The foot injury forced Sarwan to miss West Indies' four-match one-day international tour of India in January and the first two rounds of the Carib Beer Series and KFC Cup matches.