New Zealand’s star all-rounder Mitchell Santner has been ruled out of the first T20I against Pakistan after Testing COVID positive on Friday. The Kiwis will face the 2022 T20 World Cup finalist in the first of five T20I match series on January 12 at Eden Park in Auckland.
The 31-year-old will not travel with the side and has been asked to stay in isolation. Further, Santner will travel solo to Hamilton, his home ground, where the second T20I is slated.
Blackcaps took to Twitter to give an update on Santner. “Mitch Santner won’t travel to Eden Park this evening for the opening KFC T20I against Pakistan after testing positive for COVID earlier today. He will continue to be monitored over the coming days and will travel solo home to Hamilton.”
Notably, Santner led the side against Bangladesh in the recently concluded T20I series. However, regular skipper Kane Williamson is back for the Pakistan series and will lead the side for the five games.
Talking about Pakistan, this series will serve as the first assignment for Shaheen Afridi as the captain. On Friday, PCB released the playing XI for the 1st T20I.
- M Rizwan
- Saim Ayub
- Babar Azam
- Fakhar Zaman
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Azam Khan W/K
- Aamir Jamal
- Usama Mir (Debut)
- Shaheen Afridi (C)
- Abbas Afridi (Debut)
- Haris Rauf
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