PAK vs NZ T20Is: Kane Williamson Set to Miss Pakistan T20Is
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson may be ruled out in the upcoming three T20I matches against Pakistan. He suffered a hamstring injury in the 2nd T20I match while batting in the first inning. He retired hurt on the 26 runs off 15 deliveries.
Kane Williamson had a bad year in 2023 due to injuries, but now the start of 2024 is not special for him. Williamson had already been rested by New Zealand Cricket for the third T20I of the series in Dunedin as part of his rehabilitation from a knee injury.
Kane Williamson suffered a major knee injury during the IPL in 2023, due to which he was away from cricket for 6 months. Williamson made a comeback in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 in India last year since he has been managing the situation and he also missed some matches in the World Cup due to injury.
Meanwhile, Williamson has returned home while the rest of the squad left for Dunedin to play the third T20I match. New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said. “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.”
The Kiwi captain underwent a scan on Monday to confirm his injury or it may be on Tuesday, after the confirmation it will be known whether he will play the rest of the matches or not. Williamson will want to play the next matches as the T20 World Cup is just a few months away
Currently, New Zealand is in the lead in the five-match T20I series against Pakistan with a strong advantage of 2-0. The first match saw remarkable performances from Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson, Finn Allen, and Tim Southee, while the second game was notable for Finn Allen’s impressive batting and Adam Milne’s exceptional bowling. As the series progresses, Tim Seifert is the only available batting option on the bench, and if Williamson is unable to play, Seifert is expected to replace him at the No. 3 position.
In the second T20I, Tim Southee took on the role of stand-in captain, but for the remaining three matches, all-rounder Mitchell Santner will lead the team. Due to testing positive for COVID-19, the left-arm spinner was unable to participate in the first game of the series. However, his condition improved, allowing him to make a comeback in the second T20I, replacing Matt Henry.
On Wednesday, January 17, the third T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand will be held at the University Oval Ground in Dunedin. After this match, the remaining two T20Is will be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. New Zealand is close to winning the series, as they only need one more victory.
PAK VS NZ T20I Series Full Schedule
| 1st T20I match | 12 JANUARY |
| 2nd T20I match | 14 JANUARY |
| 3rd T20I match | 17 JANUARY |
| 4th T20I match | 19 JANUARY |
| 5th T20I match | 21 JANUARY |
READ MORE: PAKvsNZ T20Is: Shadab Khan Backs Usama Mir Against Overwhelming Criticism
