Blackcaps captain Kane Williamson will miss New Zealand's five-match T20 series against England with a right hip injury.
The decision was made following the opening round of the Plunket Shield on Thursday, where Williamson turned out for Northern Districts against Canterbury at Hagley Oval.
Williamson has been struggling with the injury for some time, so coach Gary Stead feels resting the batsman is important with a busy summer of cricket ahead.
"We've been monitoring the injury for a while now, and it's the same issue that ruled him out of the final test against Bangladesh back in March," said Stead.
"It's disappointing timing for Kane at the start of an exciting Kiwi summer, but we feel it's the right decision with a busy season ahead."
Tim Southee will captain the side in Williamson's absence.
"We're fortunate to have someone experienced like Tim who can comfortably step in and take the reins, as he successfully did on the recent tour of Sri Lanka," Stead added.
In other squad changes, fast-bowler Lockie Ferguson has also been included for the first three games of the series as he returns from a broken thumb.
Ferguson will make way in the final two games for left-armer Trent Boult.
In addition to adding Ferguson, paceman Blair Tickner has been added to the team.
Tickner, who made his T20 debut against India earlier this year, will be involved in all five games.
The Blackcaps and England open the series at Hagley Oval on November 1, a match that is doubling as a fundraiser for the victims of the Christchurch terror attacks in March.
Blackcaps' T20 squad: Tim Southee (c), Trent Boult (Games 4 and 5), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (Games 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner.
Newshub.
