NZ vs BAN: Kane Williamson, Kyle Jamieson withdrawn from T20I series owing to fitness concerns

New Zealand Cricket announced the withdrawal of skipper Kane Williamson and ace bowler Kyle Jamieson from the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. Williamson, recuperating from knee surgery since April, will continue his rehabilitation, while Jamieson is nursing a hamstring injury. Opener Rachin Ravindra and seamer Jacob Duffy will step in for the duo in the T20I games starting December 27.

Mitchell Santner will assume the captaincy in place of Williamson. Coach Gary Stead highlighted the medical advice behind the decision, prioritizing their fitness for the upcoming Test series against South Africa and Australia in early 2024. The focus will remain on their recovery and readiness for the crucial Tests ahead.

“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. 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,” Stead said in a statement.

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,” he added.

Kane Williamson will be back for T20I series against Pakistan

A spokesperson for the BlackCaps revealed that Kane Williamson is anticipated to make a comeback for the T20I series against Pakistan in January, alongside Kyle Jamieson, who will also be absent from the series. New Zealand have secured victories in both games of the ODI series against Bangladesh, setting the stage for the third ODI in Napier this Saturday, poised for a potential series sweep.

New Zealand's latest T20I squad:

Mitchell Santner (capt), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee