Wellington [New Zealand], March 22 (ANI): Fast bowler Matt Henry has been sidelined for New Zealand’s final two Twenty20 Internationals against Pakistan and will proceed with his “injury rehabilitation program.”
On Saturday, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) issued a statement confirming the experienced fast bowler’s exclusion from the ongoing series. The announcement stated, “Matt Henry, a BLACKCAPS pacer, will not participate in the rest of the KFC T20I series against Pakistan as he proceeds with his recovery program for an injury.”
Even with a shoulder injury, Henry was named in New Zealand’s teams for the fourth and fifth T20 matches versus Pakistan. He sustained this right shoulder damage during their recent ICC Champions Trophy semifinal victory over South Africa. Additionally, he has continued to deal with an persistent problem in his left knee.
Zak Foulkes, the Canterbury fast bowler who was selected for the initial trio of T20I matches, will continue to be part of the squad for the rest of the series. This 22-year-old player managed one wicket for 11 runs off three overs in his debut match and conceded 32 runs without taking a wicket from another set of three overs in the subsequent game.
A significant change in New Zealand's team is the exclusion of Kyle Jamieson from the final two matches of the five-game series. In the opening match, he showcased his prowess with remarkable bowling stats of 3/8, earning him the Player of the Match honor.
Following an electrifying beginning to the series, Jamieson struggled significantly as New Zealand lost the third T20I match. He found it difficult to unsettle Pakistan’s young batsmen and ended up being quite costly, conceding 54 runs without taking a wicket. As a result, Will O'Rourke will take over Jamieson’s role.
Currently, New Zealand holds a 2-1 lead in the series following the initial three matches. They began this five-game contest with consecutive victories. However, the Men in Green responded strongly in the third game by successfully pursuing an impressive target of 205 runs, securing a decisive 9-wicket victory which kept their hopes for winning the series very much alive.
The New Zealand team roster for their final pair of T20I matches against Pakistan includes Michael Bracewell as captain along with Finn Allen, Mitchell Hay (who serves as wicketkeeper), Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert (also a wicketkeeper), Mark Chapman, Zakary Foulkes, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Jacob Duffy, Will O'Rourke, Ben Sears, and Ish Sodhi. (ANI)
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