Lisburn have been dealt a blow ahead of the new cricket season after South African professional Heinrich Klaasen pulled out of his move to Wallace Park.

The highly-rated 24-year-old has a knee problem which will require treatment during the South African off-season and his franchise, the Titans, are refusing to release him.

Klaasen had been signed as a replacement for his compatriot Darryl Brown and has a huge domestic pedigree. He averages more than 50 with the bat in first-class cricket.

A Lisburn spokesman said: �Obviously the club is very disappointed to learn that Heinrich will not be joining us, particularly with the new season not too far away.

�The club is now looking at alternative professionals.�

Lisburn is under the new captaincy of Adam Berry for the 2016 season.