Australian vice captain Adam Gilchrist has reportedly been allowed to take compassionate leave during the early stages of the national side's World Cup campaign in the West Indies starting next month.

Gilchrist's wife Mel is due to give birth to their third child just days before the national squad heads out for the two-month tournament on February 28.

Depending on the date of the birth, the wicketkeeper-batsman could miss Australia's warm-up matches against Zimbabwe on March 6 and England on March 9 according to News Limited newspapers.

Gilchrist already had been allowed to be rested from the three-match Chappell Hadlee series starting this week in New Zealand.

His likely absence has opened the door for NSW gloveman Brad Haddin to be selected in Australia's 15-man squad to be announced on Tuesday.

Australian coach John Buchanan earlier Monday urged selectors to include the clean-hitting Haddin, the leading runscorer in this summer's domestic one-day competition, in the squad for the Caribbean.

Australia's World Cup pool matches are against Scotland (March 14), The Netherlands (March 18) and South Africa (March 24).

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