Pakistan superstar Shaheen Shah Afridi will miss the rest of the Big Bash season after Brisbane's No.1 draft pick was called back home due to a knee injury.
After taking two wickets in the Heat's opening three games, Afridi took to social media on Tuesday night to confirm his tournament was over.
"I'm massively thankful to the Brisbane Heat team and fans for showering me with immense love and support," Afridi said on Instagram.
"Due to an unexpected injury I have been called back by the PCB and will have to take a rehab.
"Hopefully I will be back in the field soon."
Pakistan officials had initially let Afridi, Babar Azam and Haris Rauf stay in Australia for the rest of the BBL, rather than calling them back for a T20 series in Sri Lanka.
But the knee problem has changed that plan ahead of a T20 World Cup in February and March.
Afridi's exit leaves the Heat without their two biggest strike weapons with the ball after fellow left-armer Spencer Johnson (back) was also ruled out of the tournament.
The 25-year-old arrived as one of the biggest overseas names for this summer's tournament as he played in the Big Bash for the first time.
He made headlines when banned from Brisbane's attack in his first game after sending down two waist-high full tosses in the one over.
It left the quick with the unflattering figures of 0-45 off 2.4 overs against the Melbourne Renegades.
He was also hit around against Perth before rebounding with somewhat better outings against the Sydney Thunder and Adelaide.
