A training injury put paid to Bermuda's hopes in the men's squash doubles competition at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

The Island team of Tommy Sherratt and Nick Kyme were forced to withdraw from the event at the National Squash Centre when Sherratt injured his ankle while going through a standard warm-up.

Ironically, Bermuda had sought to send three players to the Games for just such an eventuality but the Island's Olympic Association only extended an invitation for two.

"We have had to pull Tommy out and as we don't have a replacement player we have had to withdraw from the doubles," said Ross Triffitt, Bermuda's director of squash.

"Tommy had an MRI scan this morning (Wednesday) after injuring himself yesterday. It happened in practice while we were training for the event.

"We were playing against a half Welsh, half Kenyan team. It was against the Welsh guy that we were meant to be playing on Thursday and Tommy put his foot down on his and twisted his ankle as he pushed off.

"It was one of those things that you can't actually avoid. When you have four people on the court there is every chance that you can get in each other's way.

"Originally the doctor thought there might be some bone damage but it turned out to be a lot better than at first thought, although he is not able to compete."

Triffitt said Sherratt had received immediate treatment. "In the first half an hour it actually settled down quite a bit and it was looking alright, but then we got him back to the (athletes') village and it was just steadily getting worse," he said. "We had to take him off to the medical centre and that's when the doctor suggested an MRI scan."

Waking up on Wednesday, Triffitt said it was clear Sherratt could not play. The scan showed there was fluid on the joint and some swelling and his balance had been affected.

"We thought it was pretty much going to have to be a case of withdrawing because we had him in a wheelchair and on crutches," he said.

"The main issue is that while this is the most important event to us, we have qualifying for the Pan Am Games in four weeks' time. To risk any injury to him in the doubles would put that in jeopardy."

Sherratt is in the process of undergoing rehabilitation at the village prior to the team leaving on Monday and Triffitt said he was hopeful of a quick recovery.

The coach said though the team's spirit remained high, Kyme was obviously upset at not being able to get out on the court.

"Certainly Nick's a little disappointed because it's not his injury that is preventing him from playing," he said. "Tommy is disappointed, too, and feels he has let the team down but he is also realistic about it and realises that it would just cause a lot of damage and everyone is just focusing on Pan Am qualification."

He said at least the injury had not come earlier in the competition.

"It would have been devastating to have missed out on playing in the entire Games," he said. "So if there is any silver lining it is that they have already had a chance to compete in the singles."