Injured Williamson to miss remainder of Pakistan series

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has been afflicted by a hamstring injury and will miss the remainder of the ongoing T20I series against Pakistan. The 33-year-old picked up the injury while batting in the second T20I in Hamilton and retired hurt. Subsequent scans have revealed a minor strain.

Incidentally, the strained hamstrings are on the same right leg that Williamson hurt last year in the opening game of IPL 2023. Then his ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments needed surgical repair and ruled him out of action for a good part of the year. Williamson returned at the ODI World Cup and faced another injury-related setback when he suffered a fractured finger after being struck by a throw in a match against Bangladesh.

A timeline for his rehabilitation and return to cricket following the latest injury is still being established by New Zealand Cricket with a goal of being ready for selection for the Test series against South Africa starting next month.

Batter Will Young will now remain with the squad for the final three games of the Pakistan series having joined the squad ahead of Wednesday’s fixture in Dunedin. As per the original plan, Williamson was to be rested from the third T20I with a view on managing his fitness. His place in the XI is set to be taken by Tim Seifert, who will also take up the ‘keeping gloves from Devon Conway.

“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,” said coach Gary Stead.