NZ vs PAK: Corona re-enters cricket, New Zealand player becomes victim
Corona has once again entered the world of cricket. Its effect was visible in the T20 series played between Pakistan and New Zealand. New Zealand’s star bowler Mitchell Santner has been ruled out of the first T20 against Pakistan. Santner was found infected with Covid-19 on Friday morning, due to which he has been ruled out of the first match. This match will be played in Auckland.
New Zealand Cricket Board confirmed
New Zealand Cricket has officially confirmed this. Will not go to Eden Park for the first match of the T20 series against Pakistan. He has been found infected with Corona. They will be monitored in the times to come. He will go from here alone to his home in Hamilton.
Santner’s absence is a shock for the hosts
This is a big blow for New Zealand. Santner is a reliable player in the T20 format. He has scored 610 runs in 64 innings. He has 105 wickets in his name in 93 matches. He would have played an important role on the New Zealand pitch against Pakistan.
Santner was going to work with the new coach
Santner was going to play in this series with a new coach. However, this will not be possible in the first T20. Former New Zealand international cricketer Andre Adams has been appointed the team’s bowling coach for the T20 series against Pakistan starting on January 12. Adams will be part of head coach Gary Stead’s squad for the five-match series, which also includes batting coach Luke Ronchi. Adams was the fast bowling coach on the women’s team’s tour of South Africa in 2023.
