S Sreesanth will miss this year's Indian Premier League owing to a stress fracture, his IPL team Kings XI Punjab said in Chandigarh on Wednesday.
Sreesanth, currently rehabilitating in Sydney, would instead don a new role as the 'Fan Mentor and Community face' of the side, the IPL franchisee said in a statement.
"Sreesanth will miss the second season of IPL due to a L2 Stress fracture in his lower back," the statement said.
Sreesanth said despite not being able to play this season, he would be with the team all along the season.
"I intend to be with the team all along the IPL season. I will be their motivator and will cheer them through to the IPL Season 2 finals so that I can play the champions league with Kings XI Punjab," Sreesanth said in the statement.
"The new role that I will play in the interim for Kings Xi Punjab as a fan mentor and community face is going to be very exciting," said the pacer.
Coach Tom Moody rued Sreesanth's absence and wished the pacer a speedy recovery.
"It is unfortunate that Sreesanth will not be participating in the season 2 due to his back injury. He is a performer and was a great asset to the team last season and his absence on the field will surely be felt," he said.
Sreesanth featured in the infamous slap-gate episode last year when Harbhajan Singh slapped him after the Mohali-based side's match with the Mumbai Indians.
