PAK vs NZ: Kane Williamson Ruled Out Of Pakistan T20Is

By CA Writer

Updated - 15 Jan 2024, 01:48 PM

Kane Williamson likely to miss the remaining T20Is
Kane Williamson likely to miss the remaining T20Is (Credits:X)

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New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson is likely to be ruled out of the remaining three T20Is against Pakistan after he suffered a hamstring injury during the second T20I at Seddon Park in Hamilton. Kane Williamson’s 2023 was ravaged by injuries, and it seems like 2024 has followed up with the issues.

The BlackCaps’ captain was retired hurt on 26 runs off 15 deliveries after he got his hamstring injured in the first innings. He took no further part in the game, with Test skipper Tim Southee acting as the stand-in captain for the rest of the match.

Kane Williamson was already set to be rested by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) for the third T20I of the series in Dunedin as part of his knee rehabilitation. The Kiwi batter sustained a major knee injury during the IPL last year and was out of action for six months. He has been managing the situation ever since making a return at the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 in India. Williamson also missed a few matches in the World Cup because of his injury. 
“With the test matches so close as well, which probably in the big scheme of things, in the short term for us, has a higher priority, I think it’s likely we’ll try and make sure that he is right for that,” New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said. Meanwhile, Kane Williamson has returned home while the rest of the squad has traveled back to Auckland, to take a flight to their next destination, which is Dunedin where the third T20I will be played.

The Kiwi skipper will be undergoing some scans on Monday, confirming the extent of his injuries and a decision regarding his participation in the rest of the series will be taken based on the scans. It will most likely be taken on the same day or can be extended till Tuesday, whenever the results come in. Kane Williamson would like to participate in the rest of the series given that the T20 World Cup is just a few months away.

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Tim Seifert Is Likely To Replace Kane Williamson In The Playing XI

New Zealand are already leading 2-0 in the five-match T20I series against Pakistan. While Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson, Finn Allen, and Tim Southee were the stars in the first game for the BlackCaps, the second game was dominated by Finn Allen with the bat and Adam Milne was the star with the ball. Tim Seifert is the only batting option available on the bench, and he is likely to replace Williamson at No. 3 in the latter half of the series if the latter is ruled out.

While Tim Southee served as the stand-in captain in the second T20I, it will be all-rounder Mitchell Santner, who will lead the side in the remaining three encounters. The left-arm spinner missed the first game of the series after he tested positive for COVID-19. However, the symptoms improved and he returned to the playing XI in the second T20I replacing Matt Henry.

“We monitored his symptoms over the next 48 hours and he improved significantly. There’s no mandatory stand-down period in New Zealand now in terms of what you have to do, but from a symptom perspective, he was fine to play, so he played last night,” Stead said.

The third T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played at the University Oval Ground in Dunedin on Wednesday, January 17. The last two T20Is will be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. New Zealand just needs one more win to clinch the series.

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Kane Williamson New Zealand national cricket team PAK vs NZ 2024 Pakistan national cricket team

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