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Guyana's Busta Cup campaign has been dealt a major blow even before a ball has been bowled.

Reon King, their promising 25-year-old fast bowler who created a favourable impression in West Indies colours during last season's international home engagements, has been ruled out of today's first round match against Barbados at Kensington Oval.

The tall, easy-going speedster was scheduled to have a scan in Trinidad on Wednesday on the foot that has troubled him since the latter stages of last summer's tour of England.

Guyana manager Pat Legall said yesterday the scan was delayed until Monday and as a result teenager Esuan Crandon was flown in from Georgetown as a replacement for King.

King is to undergo further tests before getting the scan, but Legall was upbeat that the top fast bowler would be able to take his place sometime soon.

"His faith lies in whatever comes out of the scan, but we are confident King will come through," Legall told Weekendsport during a training session at Weymouth yesterday.

"King himself is also confident that he will be playing in the Busta Cup this year."

The absence of Colin Stuart, who recently made his Test debut in Australia, means that Guyana will field a relatively inexperienced fast bowling attack, in which Kevin Darlington is the only seasoned player.

"King's loss is a big setback for our team, but we will try and play without him," said Legall, a former Guyana fast bowler who made his first-class debut against Barbados at Kensington in 1955.

"The rest are not so green. They are very good bowlers too. You might pick up another West Indies fast bowler in the making."

King aggravated the injury during last October's Red Stripe Bowl, but was reported to have been making encouraging progress in the build-up to the start of the Busta Cup.

The injury also prevented him from being considered for the current tour of Australia.

© The Barbados Nation