PAK vs NZ: New Zealand Captain Kane Williamson To Miss Remainder Of T20I Series Against Pakistan

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New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the remaining three matches in the ongoing five-match home T20I series against Pakistan due to injury, NZC confirmed on Tuesday (January 16).

Williamson, who was not part of the squad for the third T20I on Wednesday (January 17), was retired hurt with a hamstring injury during his side's 21-run victory at the Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday (January 14).

The 33-year-old underwent a scan on Monday (January 15) for his hamstring injury. As New Zealand await the results of the scan, opening batter Will Young will replace him for the rest of the three matches, while Mitchell Santner is expected to lead the side.

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead has also revealed that Williamson suffered the injury on the same leg he picked up a knee injury on during IPL 2023, which ruled him out of action for a few months.

"It's the same leg as what his knee injury was on," Stead was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. "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 updates 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," he added.

"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," Stead said of if Williamson would feature in the final T20Is.

The Kiwis are scheduled to play three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) against Australia next month followed by a two-Test series. Before that, the Blackcaps face Pakistan in remainder of the ongoing series on January 17, 19 and 21.