Melbourne, Apr 28 (IANS): Injury-plagued Australian paceman Brett Lee is out of the World Twenty20 owing to a strained muscle in his right arm.

Lee picked up the injury during Australia's one-run loss to Zimbabwe in the warm-up game Tuesday. The World Cup begins April 30.

Lee's injury is not the same as the elbow problem he had been operated on before the tournament. The forearm injury is near the inner side of Lee’s right elbow, but separate to his elbow surgery, the team spokesman was quoted as saying in The Age.

"It’s a muscle strain. We have gone to the International Cricket Council (ICC) technical committee to ask for a replacement player," the spokesman said.

Australia need the ICC's approval before calling upon the new player - most likely Doug Bollinger.

Lee, who retired from Test cricket recently to focus on the shorter format games, came into the tournament with a broken thumb sustained in the Indian Premier League.

He said his decision was partly made due to the strain on his body.

Lee claimed the Allan Border Medal in 2008 but broke down during the following home summer against South Africa and had surgery on foot and ankle injuries.

Boasting over 300 wickets in Tests and one-day internationals, short-form specialist Lee had been fighting hard to win a spot back in the side for the World T20 and had made good use of his slower ball against Zimbabwe.