Estonia have suffered a blow in their bid to qualify for EuroBasket 2005 with the loss of guard Valmo Kriisa to injury.

As the rest of the team gets ready for their first qualifying game for the tournament against the Czech Republic on Friday, 1.90m Kriisa has returned to Holland to receive treatment for a hand injury.

Kriisa plays for MPC Capitals Groningen.

"I am truly sorry about this as I really wanted to play for the team," Kriisa told Estonian daily newspaper SL Ohtuleht.

"Unfortunately wanting is not enough."

Kriisa picked up the problem in May during the last games for his club. He took a month's rest before joining the Estonian team for training, but injured his hand again in one of the recent practice games against Lithuania.

"The doctors have examined the x-rays and it is not fully clear what we are going to do next," he continued. "I will try to give my hand a proper rest."