Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson is unlikely to feature in the remainder of the T20 series against Pakistan after sustaining a hamstring injury during last night's victory in Hamilton.
Williamson retired hurt while batting in the first innings at Seddon Park and did not return to the field for the remainder of the game.
Black Caps coach Gary Stead confirmed today Williamson had returned home to Tauranga and was set to undergo a scan.
Stead said it was "unlikely" Williamson would feature in the remaining three games.
"With the Test matches so close, and in the big scheme of things in the short term for us [the Tests] have higher priority and I think it’s likely we’ll try and make sure he’s right for that."
Will Young will join the Black Caps squad and is likely to feature in place of the injured captain.
Stead could not say whether the new injury was related to the ACL tear Williamson has been recovering from since last year, although stressed Williamson had come back from it "remarkably well".
"The knee injury was clearly a really serious thing. It can take anything from 12-18 months to get completely right," Stead said.
"He’s done remarkably well to come back and do what he has done, and I think the amazing thing is how well he’s come in and performed as well.
"Kane’s a prodigious trainer in the nets, loves to hit balls and work on his game so probably by his standards he hasn’t done as much as he would’ve liked, but he’s still showing the results which is pretty amazing in itself."
The Black Caps travel to Dunedin today ahead of the third T20 in Dunedin on Wednesday afternoon.
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