WELLINGTON, March 22: All-rounder Chris Cairns has been ruled out of next month’s one-day competition in Sharjah and also New Zealand’s tour of Pakistan after tearing a tendon in his right knee.

Cairns, 31, injured his right patella while diving in the field on the first day of the first Test against England in Christchurch and New Zealand coach Denis Aberhart said on Friday his recovery would take some time.

The all-rounder had previously been carrying a back injury and only returned to international duty for New Zealand’s tour to Australia late last year.

New Zealand tour West Indies immediately after the Pakistan series in May but, by then, Cairns is scheduled to be playing English county cricket with Nottinghamshire.

Nottinghamshire, however, are looking for a possible replacement for Cairns in case the New Zealander fails to regain full fitness in time to honour his contact.—Reuters