Image Credit- ICC
The official captain of New Zealand, Kane Williamson,
and Kyle Jamieson have been left out of the T20I team that will play Bangladesh
at home later this month. In Williamson’s absence, Mitchell Santner, who has
captained both of New Zealand’s white-ball teams in the past, will serve as
captain.
The NZC said that the decision regarding Williamson
and Jamieson was reached after “medical advice and consideration of the
team’s upcoming schedule, with a focus on this summer’s Test series against
South Africa and Australia.” Rachin Ravindra and Jacob Duffy have been
called up as substitutes.
Williamson, who had a right knee injury during the IPL
that kept him out of action for seven months, “will undergo a period of
knee rehabilitation and strengthening following his recent return to play in
India and Bangladesh,” the NZC announced.
For Jamieson, “his hamstring injury was best
served by a period of targeted rehabilitation leading into February’s Test
Series against South Africa” . He will miss the three T20I series against
Bangladesh in addition to the T20I series against Pakistan in January. Prior to
this, he was left out of the ODI team for New Zealand’s current 2-0 lead
against Bangladesh in the series.
“We want both Kane and Kyle to be in the best
possible place leading into the next block of Test cricket against South Africa
and Australia,” Gary Stead, the New Zealand coach, said in a statement.
“Based on discussions with the medical staff and the players, it was
decided a period of rehabilitation and conditioning was the best option for
both of them.
“Jacob is an experienced T20 cricketer, and
always brings a lot when he is part of the BlackCaps environment. He’s worked
very hard on his white-ball skills in recent seasons. Rachin adds to any
environment he’s a part of, and has a great desire to learn and develop his
game – across all three formats.”