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New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is set to miss the remainder of the T20I series against Pakistan. The Kiwi captain retired hurt on 26 off 15 balls in the second T20I after feeling tightness in his right hamstring. The Blackcaps eventually won the game with a 21-run margin and now lead the five-game series 2-0.
But after the game, Williamson was flown home to Tauranga and was set for a scan on Monday. He was immediately ruled of the third match of the series in Dunedin on Wednesday but is set to miss the final two games with the Test series against South Africa coming back.
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Talking about Williamson's availability for the final two T20Is, NZ coach Gary Stead said, "I think it's unlikely he will play. I mean with the Test matches so close as well and probably in the big scheme of things in the short term for us has higher priority then I think it's likely we'll try and make sure that he's right for that," as quoted by Cricinfo.
New Zealand's coach also spoke on how Williamson's injury occurred on the same leg which had his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) that sidelined Williamson for six months before the ODI World Cup in 2023. Gary Stead said, "It's the same leg as what his knee injury was on. He's gone home to Tauranga.
He'll get a scan today. Until I know more about the scan, then I haven't got any further update at this stage. Will Young was going to join the team anyway for this [part of the] series. Kane wasn't going to join. I think it's likely that Will will stay on, but until we get the scan results from Kane, then we can't make a further decision."
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Further talking about Williamson's replacement, Stead shared that likely Tim Seifert could come into the playing XI. The NZ coach said, "It'll be another test without having Kane there, who I think always provides that stableness to your batting. That'll be an opportunity for, likely, Tim Seifert to come in and show what he can still do, and fill in those shoes that Kane's probably left for the rest of the series."
