Cairns unavailable for Pakistan series

New Zealand Cricket today confirmed that star all-rounder Chris Cairns would not be available for selection for the CLEAR Black Caps tour to Pakistan.

Cairns is recovering from surgery nearly 6 months ago to the patella tendon of his right knee.

New Zealand Cricket Fitness Advisor, Warren Frost, said while Cairns had initially targeted the Pakistan series for a return to international cricket this timeframe was always going to be tight.

"Chris' rehabilitation is progressing well. He has begun running and will soon begin sports specific exercising including bowling.

"Had the One Day International series been played after the Test matches there would have been a small chance of him being fit for them. However as the one dayers are first they are too soon for him to target and a Test match loading would not be a sensible way to reintroduce him to the demands of international cricket," Frost said.

After a spell overseas Cairns is now continuing his rehabilitation programme at New Zealand Cricket's High Performance Centre at Lincoln University.