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Daryl Tuffey will make a belated debut for Auckland against the touring Bangladeshi cricket side on Friday after it was initially thought the province's new signing would remain in Sydney.
The former New Zealand and Northern Districts pace bowler confirmed he would fulfil his contract with Auckland after discussions with coach Mark O'Donnell from India last weekend.
Tuffey was in the subcontinent as a member of the Delhi Lions, a franchise which made the semifinals of the rebel Indian Cricket League Twenty20 competition.
Tuffey, who last played for New Zealand during the World Cup in the West Indies nine months ago, had been playing in Sydney's club competition before joining the rebel circus and had considered returning to the Sutherland club.
However, the 29-year-old, who was touted as a major signing by Auckland at the end of last summer, has opted to return to New Zealand, a move which came as a welcome surprise for O'Donnell.
The right-armer, who has played 80 one-day internationals and 22 tests, will play for the rest of the season and is likely to shoulder a significant burden should Chris Martin remain in New Zealand's test and one-day squads.
"He was looking at Sydney club cricket but he's made the call and I'm rapt," O'Donnell said.
"We traded phone calls over the weekend. It's just a good opportunity to get Tower [Tuffey] back before the [State Shield] one-dayers.
"It's good because I don't think we'll see much of Chris Martin with Bondy [the injured Shane Bond] not playing against Bangladesh."
Auckland have included allrounder David Houpapa, on the comeback trail from injury, and spinner Roneel Hira, also for the first time this season, for the one-dayer against Bangladesh.
Young speedster Greg Morgan is included on the back of his fine debut against Northern Districts in the four-day State Championship, and Andy McKay is rewarded for his good early season form.
The game at Eden Park's outer oval serves as Bangladesh's final one-dayer before a three-match series against New Zealand starts in Auckland on Boxing Day.
- NZPA
