Auckland : New Zealand pacer Tim Southee, who has been suffering from a bruising left foot, has been ruled out of the three-match T20 series against Pakistan.
The 27year-old, who suffered the injury during the third ODI against Sri Lanka, was originally hoped he could recover in time for T20s against Pakistan.
But the CT scan has revealed that the injury was slightly more serious.
Confirming the news, New Zealand batting coach Craig Mcmillan said, “It’s something that will take a wee while to get right. I’m not exactly sure of the time frame – whether it’s two to three weeks – as to where he is at. The plan in place, fingers crossed, is that hopefully he’ll be back for the end of the season – back firing for the Australia series,” he was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
The absence of the right-handed pacer, who is seen as the spearhead of the limited overs attack, would be a substantial blow to the line-up.
Meanwhile, Pakistani batsman Umar Akmal has been suspended from the first T20 international against New Zealand after the country’s cricket board slapped him with a one-match ban for violating the dress code in a domestic match earlier this week.
The first of Pakistan’s T20s will be played in Auckland, on January 15. (ANI)