New Zealand opener Tim Seifert has been ruled out of this month's Twenty20 series with West Indies after the wicketkeeper suffered a broken finger during a domestic match, the country's cricket governing body (NZC) said on Tuesday.

Mitchell Hay was called up to replace Seifert before the five-match bilateral series kicks off in Auckland on Wednesday, NZC said in a statement.

"Seifert retired hurt after being hit on the finger ... a subsequent X-ray revealed a fracture to the right index finger," it added.

New Zealand coach Rob Walter said Seifert, who has played 77 international matches in the format and scored 12 fifties, has been a key player as they prepare for next year's T20 World Cup, which begins in February.

"He showed in the recent T20 series that he’s building up to top form,

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