Fast bowler Shane Bond has had his contract with New Zealand Cricket terminated after the player signed for the rebel Twenty20 Indian Cricket League.
The two parties cancelled the contract by mutual consent, New Zealand Cricket said in a statement on Monday, adding that the door has been left open for Bond to represent his country again in the future.
NZC was forced to comply with International Cricket Council regulations which prevented contracted players from taking part in the non-sanctioned ICL, chief executive Justin Vaughan said.
"At some stage in the future we may be able to welcome Shane back into the Black Caps; either when he is no longer playing for the ICL or when that competition does not exist," Vaughan said.
The 32-year-old Bond has taken 79 wickets in 17 Tests at an average of 22.39 in an injury-plagued career.
An automatic selection for the team when fit, Bond is regarded as New Zealand's best fast bowler since the retirement of Richard Hadlee.
Bond said in a statement he is sympathetic to NZC's efforts to retain his services and hopes to represent his country again in the future.
Rumours had swirled in the local media for weeks that Bond had signed with the ICL and Vaughan had previously said he was hopeful the bowler would be available for the home series against England beginning on February 5.
After penning a three-year contract, Bond becomes the seventh New Zealand cricketer to sign with the ICL.
All-rounders Chris Cairns, Nathan Astle, Chris Harris and Craig McMillan have all retired from international cricket while batsman Hamish Marshall and bowler Daryl Tuffey have been overlooked by selectors in recent times.
