Adani Sportsline-owned Gulf Giants announced on Saturday that West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite will replace England’s right-arm fast bowler Jamie Overton in their squad for the inaugural edition of the International League T20 (ILT20) held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The 28-year-old English cricketer, who was intended to be one of pillars of the Gulf Giants’ bowling unit, has been ruled out of the entire tournament due to a lumbar stress fracture. 

Meanwhile, the 2016 ICC Men’s World T20-winning cricketer Carlos Brathwaite has been added to the Gulf Giants squad. 

Having made his T20 debut in January 2011, Carlos Brathwaite has already played over 200 matches in cricket’s shortest format. The Barbados-born cricketer has bagged 236 wickets and also scored 2,302 runs in 246 T20 matches.

Brathwaite is remembered for smashing four consecutive sixes in the first four balls of the last over of the 2016 ICC Men’s World T20 final to help West Indies beat England by four wickets to clinch their second T20 World Cup title.

Despite the injury of Overton, the arrival of Carlos Brathwaite means the Giants are reinforced with a power hitter that can be deployed anywhere in the batting order. 

“It’s unfortunate he won’t be part of the tournament given the nature of his injury. I wish him a speedy recovery. Meanwhile, I am happy that we are getting Carlos on board. He is a young dynamic player who will strengthen our squad,” Gulf Giants head coach Andy Flower said.

The James Vince-led Gulf Giants will kick off their ILT20 campaign on Sunday when they take on the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.