De Villiers told to rest injury

AB de Villiers celebrates his half century against New Zealand in ICC Champions Trophy

De Villiers is one of South Africa's biggest batting assets

South Africa's AB de Villiers is being rested from all competition for up to six weeks to overcome a back problem.

The batsman, 25, will miss the Twenty20 Champions League in India with Delhi this month, but should be fit for the start of England's tour in November.

Cricket South Africa said the break is "to allow for proper management of his condition and prevent further injury".

Proteas skipper Graeme Smith has pulled out of the Twenty20 Champions League to ensure he is fit to face England.

De Villiers is ranked as the fifth-best batsman in the world in one-day cricket and 13th in Test matches, while his Test average is an impressive 44.

Shuaib Manjra, chairman of CSA's medical committee, said: "AB de Villiers developed left lumbar pain, four weeks ago, during preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy tournament.

"We have thus decided to withdraw AB from all cricketing activities for the next four to six weeks."

The enforced break means that de Villiers will be unable to play for the Delhi Daredevils in the Champions League, which gets under way on 8 October.

England's tour, which runs from 13 November to 18 January, sees them face the hosts in two Twenty20 matches, five one-day internationals and four Tests.