Melbourne - Cricket Australia has withdrawn Mitchell Johnson from the start of the Champions League Twenty20 to allow the aggressive fast bowler to recover from a rib injury.
Johnson plays for India's Kings XI Punjab, and might be released to play in the latter stages of the tournament which starts this week and culiminates in a final at Bangalore on October 4.
In a statement on Wednesday, Australia physio Alex Kountouris said Johnson had some rib pain during the recent one-day international tri-series in Zimbabwe.
Kountouris said Johnson "has had a break from bowling since returning to Australia and having regular treatment to resolve the problem. He has not fully recovered as yet and will be reviewed over the next week."