Eye injury setback rules Craig Kieswetter out of World Cup

London: England wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter`s hopes of going to the World Cup next year have been dashed after he admitted the eye damaged in a county match last season had not healed properly.

The 27-year-old South Africa-born player -- who was named in England`s preliminary squad for the World Cup which gets underway in February in Australia and New Zealand -- may well miss the whole of the 2015 season.

Kieswetter, who has played 46 times for the England one-day side, suffered a broken nose, a damaged eye socket and cheekbone when a ball crept through the grille of his helmet playing for his county Somerset against Northamptonshire last July.

Somerset have said Kieswetter`s long-term prognosis is unknown but he is "unlikely" to be fit for next year.

Kieswetter released a statement in which he explained his eyesight was still not 100 percent despite recently playing in South Africa`s Twenty20 competition.

"It is really disappointing but my eye is not 100% and this of course is critical in maintaining the levels of performance that I expect of myself.

"I need to make every effort to resolve the matter and have the best specialist help in that regard."