Hashim Amla is being lined up to replace the injured Shaun Marsh at Kings XI Punjab, making his debut in the lucrative tournament.

The explosive batsman was surprisingly ignored in the IPL auction, but secured a place with Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean Premier League later this year.

It is understood from Indian sources that clearances for Amla’s stint with the team have been obtained and  he is expected to join the side soon.

Amla has played 88 T20s, scoring 2 446 runs at an average of 31.35 and a strike-rate of 125.95. He scored two fifties as an opening batsman for South Africa in the recent World T20, accumulating 120 runs in four matches at 134.83.

Marsh  picked up the injury in the game against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 19, and has been carrying a niggle since. He batted and fielded in Sunday’s game, when Kings XI beat Gujarat Lions, with some discomfort.

The casualty rate in the IPL has been high recently. South Africa’s unorthodox leg-spinner Tabraiz Shmasi was given a chance with Royal Challengers when Samuel Badree broke down, and since then the IPL has lost, among others, Faf du Plessis, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Kevin Pietersen, Lendl Simmons, John Hastings and Dwayne Bravo.