Pakistani fast bowler Abbas Afridi will miss the third T20I against New Zealand due to a minor abdominal muscle strain, as confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday.
The decision regarding his participation in the last two matches will be made later. Despite a scan showing no significant injury, Afridi will be managed symptomatically.
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Afridi, who recently debuted in the series, has taken five wickets in the two matches played so far. The potential replacement for Afridi in Pakistan’s playing XI for the third T20I could be Zaman Khan.
In the previous match, New Zealand’s pace bowler Adam Milne secured four wickets, contributing to New Zealand’s 21-run victory over Pakistan in the second Twenty20 international.
This win propelled New Zealand to a 2-0 lead in the series. However, the victory came at a cost as captain Kane Williamson sustained a hamstring injury, leading to his retirement hurt during batting.
Unfortunately, Williamson will be sidelined for the rest of the series, including the third game on Wednesday. With the first Test against South Africa looming, coach Gary Stead emphasized prioritizing Williamson’s fitness for the upcoming Tests. As a result, Williamson will sit out the remaining two T20 matches.
To address the absence of Williamson, Tim Seifert is expected to take his place in the batting lineup, with indications that Seifert will also replace Devon Conway as the wicketkeeper at some point in the series.
