Black Caps captain Kane Williamson. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Kane Williamson will not play in the opening match of the Cricket World Cup next week.
Williamson has been recovering from ACL ligament surgery on his knee, and will not be ready in time for the opening match against England in Ahmedabad in India on Thursday.
Coach Gary Stead said Williamson will play as a batsman only in Friday night's warm-up match against Pakistan.
All going well, he will also field in the team's final warm-up match against South Africa on Monday.
Tom Latham will captain the Black Caps in the Pakistan match, which begins at 9.30pm on Friday, NZT.
Williamson was named player of the tournament after the 2019 World Cup, in which the Black Caps came agonisingly close to their first-ever grand final triumph.
"Right from the start we've taken a long-term view on Kane's return to play," Stead said.
"His recovery is tracking well and it's now a matter of making sure he can cope with the rigours and intensity of international cricket.
"We'll continue to take a day by day approach to Kane's rehabilitation and certainly won't be putting any pressure on him to return before he is ready."