The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, New Delhi

India coach Gary Kirsten will leave the team's Sri Lanka tour and fly home to his native South Africa Tuesday to visit his critically ill mother, the cricket board said here.

"Kirsten has been granted leave to go to South Africa to be with his mother as she is critically ill," board secretary Niranjan Shah said in a statement.

"Kirsten will not be available for the third Test as he will be leaving from Colombo for South Africa tonight (Tuesday). There will not be any replacement in his absence," he said.