New Zealand face a double blow as key players Kane Williamson and Kyle Jamieson are ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh due to injuries.
The Black Caps have made changes to their 13-player squad, bringing in young talent Rachin Ravindra and experienced pacer Jacob Duffy in place of the injured duo.
Williamson, the skipper, is set for a period of knee rehabilitation after his recent return from injury, while Jamieson, the fast bowler, will be rested to avoid risking further complications before the busy Test schedule against South Africa and Australia in the new year.
Coach Gary Stead emphasized the importance of having both players in optimal condition for the upcoming Test matches, stating, “We want both Kane and Kyle to be in the best possible place leading into the next block of Test cricket against South Africa and Australia.”
Stead expressed confidence in the replacements, saying, “Jacob is an experienced T20 cricketer and always brings a lot when he is part of the Black Caps environment. He’s worked very hard on his white-ball skills in recent seasons. Rachin adds to any environment he’s a part of and has a great desire to learn and develop his game – across all three formats.”
The three-match T20I series is scheduled to take place from December 27 to December 31, 2023. The new-look New Zealand T20I squad, captained by Mitchell Santner, includes Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Adam Milne, and others, with Duffy and Ravindra aiming to make a significant impact during the series.
