St Kitts & Nevis Patriots have been dealt another blow in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024 as their key player, Sherfane Rutherford, has withdrawn from the tournament due to personal reasons.

A CPL release confirmed the 26-year-old batter’s exit during the Patriots’ last home game of the season against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons. The team has yet to announce a replacement for Rutherford.

Rutherford had played only four matches this season, scoring 35 runs at a blistering strike rate of 194.44, with a top score of 34 against Guyana Amazon Warriors. His unavailability leaves the Patriots struggling for options, with bowling allrounder Dominic Drakes batting at No. 7 during Sunday’s match against the Falcons.

The Patriots have had a challenging season, sitting at the bottom of the CPL 2024 points table with just one win from six matches. Injuries and player unavailability have further hampered the team’s performance. Earlier, Zimbabwe allrounder Sikandar Raza was ruled out due to injury, while key players like Wanindu Hasaranga and Tabraiz Shamsi were unavailable at different stages of the tournament. The team also lost Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman, who returned home to play in the Champions One-Day Cup.

In addition to Rutherford’s departure, Kyle Mayers is also a fitness concern after leaving the field during a two-over bowling spell, with broadcasters suggesting a hamstring injury. South Africa batter Rilee Rossouw, however, made his return after recovering from a calf injury.

The Patriots are set to face Saint Lucia Kings next at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium on September 12, hoping to turn their fortunes around in the remaining games of CPL 2024.