Kane Williamson missed the second Test against West Indies in Wellington as he returned home to be with his wife. The couple are expecting their first child and it seems Kane Williamson’s paternity leave might be extended. New Zealand head coach Gary Stead has said that Kane Williamson but not play the first Twenty20 International against Pakistan beginning on December 18 but he might make a return for the second and third games. Speaking to the media before the start of the series, Gary Stead said, “There's no update on baby news so we'll let them carry on as is.” In Kane Williamson’s absence, Tom Latham captained New Zealand and they defeated the West Indies by an innings at the Basin Reserve to go on top of the ICC Test rankings and also put pressure on India. New Zealand’s two wins against Pakistan in the upcoming Test series might make the ICC World Test Championship race to the final very interesting.
While there is uncertainty over Kane Williamson, there is bad news for Lockie Ferguson and Colin de Grandhomme. Ferguson, who complained of back pain after the end of the West Indies T20Is, has gone for scans but there is fear that he might suffer a back stress fracture which might rule him out for the entire season. On the other hand, Colin de Grandhomme has been ruled out until mid-January due to a foot injury, meaning he will miss the entire series against Pakistan.
“Colin de Grandhomme has a stress reaction in his right foot and isn't quite ready yet for running, let alone bowling. We still haven't been able to get him back to running and then obviously bowling as well. Looking like hopefully a mid-January return,” Stead said.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that skipper Babar Azam has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match T20I series against New Zealand. Azam was ruled out of the series after suffering a fracture in his right thumb during Sunday morning's practice session.
The number two ranked ICC T20I batsman suffered the injury during a throw-down session, following which he was taken to a local hospital where X-rays confirmed the fracture.
As such, Babar will be unable to attend nets for, at least, 12 days, meaning he will not be available for the December 18-22 T20Is to be played in Auckland, Hamilton, and Napier, respectively. During this period, the doctors will continue to monitor Babar's injury before confirming his participation in the first Test, which starts at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on December 26.