South Africa batsman Jacques Kallis was ruled out of this week's first Test against England on Monday.
Kallis has returned home to be with his father, who is suffering from lung cancer.
South Africa media manager Gerald de Kock said: "He is not in our plans for the first Test at least.
"There was a possibility that he would be on a flight today but that's now not going to happen."
The first of five Tests starts on Thursday at Edgbaston.
"It might be a week, it might be a month. He's being given as much time as he needs," de Kock added.
The 27-year-old Kallis is South Africa's in-form batsman, as well as a genuine all-rounder.
He hit back-to-back centuries during a just-concluded one-day triangular series against England and Zimbabwe, averaging 109.66 during the tournament.
Kallis averages more than 50 in Tests and has also taken 174 wickets at 30.43 each.
