New Zealand suffered a huge blow during the final T20I match of the series against Pakistan on Tuesday. Opener Martin Guptill and spinner Ish Sodhi picked injuries during the third T20I which they lost by 4 wickets at McLean Park.
Guptill sustained a laceration on the pad of his right index finger while Sodhi strained his left hamstring in the side’s loss.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed that Sodhi will leave the team for Christchurch for undergoing scans of his hamstring. The board also confirmed that he will be out for a period of at least two weeks and miss the Test series against Pakistan.
“Blackcaps spinner Ish Sodhi has a confirmed strain to his left hamstring, sustained while fielding in the third T20I against Pakistan in Napier last night,” NZC said in a statement.
“Sodhi has returned to Christchurch today and will have scans to ascertain the extent of the strain and the recovery plan, although he is expected to be out for at least two weeks,” it added.
The board also confirmed that Guptill has gone for rehabilitation program and his recovery will determine his return to the side.
“Opening batsman Martin Guptill suffered a laceration to the pad of his right index finger while trying to stop a ball in the field in the same match. Guptill had the wound cleaned and closed on the night and his rehabilitation will be determined following the results of an x-ray on the injury,” the statement said.
New Zealand and Pakistan are now slated to face each other for the two-match Test series slated to begin on the Boxing Day (December 26).
