Wellington, Dec. 29 (ANI): New Zealand first class team Northern Districts has said that it will wait for Sri Lankan star Tillekaratne Dilshan for the domestic Twenty20 championship.

The electric Dilshan was due to join the team for the start of the HRV Cup, starting against Auckland on January 2 at Mt Maunganui, reports the New Zealand Herald.

However, he has been required for a hastily-arranged tri-series involving Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India and now won’t get to New Zealand until at least January 15.

By that time he is likely to have missed at least six of Northern District’s 10 round robin games.

However, coach Grant Bradburn confirmed yesterday that Northern District’s would not be seeking a short-term replacement for the first half of the competition.

“We’re going with what we’ve got,” he said.

Bradburn also pointed out that New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori would be playing the entire Twenty20 as well, “and he adds real value for us in leadership, batting and bowling”. (ANI)