(File photo: Sichuan Blue Whale)

BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) club Sichuan Blue Whale on Thursday replaced head coach Yin Kui with Zhou Jinli.

"Sichuan Blue Whale head coach Yin Kui cannot continue to perform his duty due to illness. The club has decided that Zhou Jinli takes charge of the team with immediate effect," read a statement from the Sichuan club.

Zhou has coached several teams across the National Basketball League (NBL), Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) league and CBA, and returns to Sichuan after coaching there during its title-winning year of 2016.

"We hope that under the leadership of the new coaching staff, the team will improve and give our fans something to cheer," the club added.

With a 2-13 record after 15 rounds, Sichuan currently sits 19th in the 20-team CBA, and hosts Jiangsu this Friday.