Astle to come home after injuring knee

TelstraClear Black Caps batsman, Nathan Astle, has been ruled out of rest of the tour of Pakistan with a knee injury and he will be replaced by Mathew Sinclair.

Astle had been experiencing increasing discomfort in his left knee since the one-day tournament in Sharjah and had a precautionary scan in Pakistan today.

The scan was reviewed by specialists in Pakistan who diagnosed him as having a tear to the patella tendon.

New Zealand Cricket Operations Manager John Reid says Astle will be returning home as soon as possible for examination and treatment.

"Nathan will not be playing in the second One-Day International (day-nighter starting today) and will take no further part in the series," said Reid.

"We want to get him home for further diagnosis from our medical team and start him on rehabilitation as quickly as possible."

Sinclair will fly out to rejoin the side on Friday and will be available for the Test series.