Sri Lanka’s chances at the World Twenty20 have suffered a huge blow after offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan was ruled out of the tournament with a groin injury. He has been advised two to three weeks’ rest, and no replacement has been named yet.

Murali, who is also the team’s vice-captain, was injured during Friday’s opening match against New Zealand in Guyana, which Sri Lanka lost by two wickets. “Clinical tests revealed a grade one strain of his right adductor muscle,” team physiotherapist Tommy Simsek said in a statement released by Sri Lanka Cricket in Colombo.

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Murali is the world’s leading wicket-taker in Tests and one-dayers, and Sri Lanka’s frontline spinner in all formats. He had a successful IPL season, part of the Chennai Super Kings squad that eventually won the tournament.

The defeat on Friday leaves Sri Lanka needing to win against Zimbabwe on Monday to avoid being eliminated from the tournament in the Caribbean.