NZ vs PAK: Josh Clarkson ruled out due to injury, Will Young named replacement

Listen to Story Josh Clarkson will not join the New Zealand squad for the third T20I against Pakistan on January 17 at the University Oval in Dunedin due to a shoulder injury. Clarkson injured his shoulder while playing for the Central Stags in the Super Smash. The 26 year old was only a part of the third T20I after Kane Williamson opted to miss the game to manage his knee that has troubled him over the last 12 months.

After Clarkson was ruled out, the Black Caps named Will Young as a replacement. Young was stupendous in the ODI series against Bangladesh where he got scores of 105, 89 and 26. However, he is yet to make his debut in T20Is. Young caught the eyes of the selectors after he scored an unbeaten 101 off 63 balls while playing for Central Districts in their match against Otago at McLean Park in Napier.

Earlier, the Kiwis missed out on the services of all rounder Mitchell Santner for the opening T20I which took place on Thursday, January 12 at the Eden Park in Auckland. Santner tested positive for Covid 19 after which he stayed in isolation in a hotel in Auckland. Santner will be travelling ‘solo’ to Hamilton where the Kiwis will lock horns with Shaheen Shah Afridi’s Pakistan in the second T20I at Seddon Park.

New Zealand made a brilliant start to the T20I series after they took a 1 0 series lead . Daryl Mitchell won the Player of the Match award after he scored 61 runs off 27 balls with four fours and as many sixes. After the Kiwis posted a massive score of 226 for eight on the board, they bowled Pakistan out for 180 in 18 overs.

Tim Southee picked up four wickets and also reached the landmark of 150 wickets in T20Is..