Cricket: Martin Guptill returns home from CPL due to 'important family health matter'

Martin Guptill. Photo / Getty Images.

Martin Guptill has cut his Caribbean Premier League stint short to deal with a family health matter at home

The circumstances are not believed to involve Guptill's wife Laura and her pregnancy.

The couple are expecting their first child next month.

The New Zealand batsman has been skippering the Guyana Amazon Warriors, who sit fourth on the six-team table with two round robin matches remaining.

He will not return to the tournament.

Omar Khan, the franchise's operations manager, empathised with Guptill's situation.

"It's unfortunate and hugely disappointing to lose Martin at this stage of the tournament.
"He has our full support as he returns home to his family."

Recently retired Black Cap Luke Ronchi will replace Guptill after finishing with Leicestershire in England's T20 Blast.

"We welcome Luke to the Guyana Amazon Warriors family," Khan said.

"His wealth of experience and explosive batting in this format will certainly be an asset."
The week has been a rosy one for retired Black Caps.

Grant Elliott received a call-up to the World XI to play three International Cricket Council sanctioned T20s against Pakistan in Lahore next month.

He will be New Zealand's sole representative in a 14-man squad featuring cricketers from seven test-playing countries.

The week-long assignment is expected to net him more than $100,000.
Elliott received a "no objection certificate" from New Zealand Cricket to play in the series.