Pakistan fast bowler Dilbar Hussain has been ruled out of the Melbourne Stars' BBL campaign for four-to-six weeks with a moderate hamstring strain, leaving him unavailable until late January.

Hussain suffered the injury while bowling his second over in the Stars' comfortable win over the Sydney Thunder in Canberra on Saturday.

He winced in pain after his delivery stride and grabbed at his left hamstring before limping off the ground with Hilton Cartwright required to complete the over.

Hussain had taken 2 for 25 in the opening match of the tournament against the Brisbane Heat.

The injury further stretches the Stars' list. They have re-signed Pakistan quick Haris Rauf but he is unavailable until after Pakistan's Test series against New Zealand, with the second and final Test finishing on January 7.

West Indies batsman Nicholas Pooran is set to be available for the Stars shortly after playing for West Indies A in a two-match series against New Zealand A in New Zealand.