PAK vs NZ: Tom Blundell ruled out of ODIs with quad strain, Daryl Mitchell to replace

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell has been ruled out of Pakistan ODIs with a left-quad strain and will be replaced by all-rounder Daryl Mitchell, who made his ODI and T20I debuts at home against Bangladesh in March this year.

Originally, Mitchell was to join the New Zealand team for the five T20Is following the ODI series, however, with his mandatory self-isolation period completed, he has been included in the team and will be available for the second ODI.

Blundell, who last played an ODI during his debut series against India at home, picked the injury in the penultimate fixture of the five-T20I series against Bangladesh, which New Zealand lost 2-3 eventually, and had to sit out of the final encounter.

If anything, Blundell’s injury only further tones New Zealand down, who are missing a bunch of their regulars – Kane Williamson, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Seifert, James Neesham, Trent Boult, Adam Milne, Mitchell Santner, and Lockie Ferguson – due to the clash of the series in question with the resuming edition of the Indian Premier League 2021.

We’re hopeful he’ll be available again for the T20I series: Glenn Pocknall

“Obviously everyone is gutted for Tom, he’s a quality player with a diverse skill-set. He’ll remain with the squad and we’re hopeful he’ll be available again for the T20I series,” said an optimistic New Zealand coach Glenn Pocknall.

“We’re fortunate to have someone of Daryl’s quality to join us early for the ODIs. He’s shown last summer what a destructive batsman he is, while also offering another useful bowling option.

“With Tom out, we do lose our first choice backup wicket-keeping option. However, there are several guys in the squad with keeping experience and we’ll ensure they do the necessary work at training to be up to speed if called upon.”

The ODIs begin on September 12, with the following encounters scheduled on September 19 and 21, all in Rawalpindi before the T20Is scheduled on September 25, 26, 29, and October 1 and 3 in Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

The three-match ODI series, which was originally a part of the ICC’s ODI World Cup Super League, has been given the status of a standalone bilateral contest owing to the non-availability of the Decision Review System (DRS).