Napier, April 19 (IANS): Former New Zealand cricketer Mathew Sinclair sparked a manhunt when he was found missing after a domestic incident.

Police were summoned to the Hawke’s Bay family house owned by Sinclair and his wife Tina on Saturday. It was believed Tina had called the police. The couple are currently going through a separation.

The Sinclairs have two young children, Liam and Holly. Tina believed Sinclair fled from the house with the children and it forced her to call the police.

The police officers found Sinclair and the children at a fast food joint about an hour later where they spoke to him for about 30 minutes. The 39-year-old then left the restaurant with his children, reports the New Zealand Herald.

"It's a domestic situation between two partners going through a separation. Smith said the man had fled the property with his children," Senior police sergeant Ross Smith was quoted as saying by the paper on Sunday.

"I've got no comment. I'm not saying anything at all," Sinclair said about the incident.

Sinclair was once one the game’s most promising talents, becoming an overnight sensation when he scored 214 on debut for New Zealand in 1999 against the West Indies.

But he was unable to cement a spot with the team in an 11-year international career. He retired from professional cricket in July 2013.