Matt Henry ruled out of ODI series against Pakistan, India

New Zealand pacer Matt Henry has been ruled out of the forthcoming ODI series against Pakistan and India due to an abdominal strain. Henry suffered the injury on Day 5 of the recently concluded second Test against Pakistan at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi.

Despite being injured, the 31-year-old kept going in the final session of the Test match which ended on level terms. After the match, New Zealand head coach Gary Stead confirmed Henry’s injury but also appreciated his gutsy effort against the Babar Azam-led side.

“It was a pretty gutsy effort, really, but he will be withdrawn from the ODI side,” Stead said on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Black Caps are yet to announce Henry’s replacement for the white-ball series against the two Asian sides. The pacer will be returning back to New Zealand with his other teammates who were just involved in New Zealand’s Test tour of Pakistan and will assess his condition and start the recovery process.

On the other hand, Blair Tickner has already replaced fellow seamer Adam Milne in the white-ball squad due to concerns about the latter’s preparation for 50-over cricket.

New Zealand’s split ODI squad for Pakistan, India series

Regular skipper Kane Williamson will be seen leading the Black Caps in the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan but will not be available for the white-ball series against the Men in Blue. The same can be said for head coach Stead, who’ll return back to his homeland after the Pakistan series.

In Williamson and Stead’s absence, Tom Latham will be seen leading the Kiwis while batting coach Luke Ronchi will fill in for Stead in the three-match ODI series against the Men in Blue. The ODI series against India will begin in Hyderabad and will be followed by a three-match T20I series, starting January 27.

New Zealand squad for ODI series in Pakistan and India: Kane Williamson (captain – Pakistan ODIs), Tom Latham (captain – India ODIs), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman (India ODIs only), Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy (India ODIs only), Lockie Ferguson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (Pakistan ODIs only), Blair Tickner