New Zealand captain Kane Williamson retired hurt after "experiencing tightness" in his right hamstring while batting in the second T20I against Pakistan in Hamilton on Sunday. As a precautionary measure, he would not return to the field.
Tim Southee will captain New Zealand for the rest of the game.
After the tenth over, Williamson was seen getting attended to by the physio, with him clutching his right hamstring. He was batting on 26 off 15, with three fours and a six. During the drinks interval, he then trudged off with Daryl Mitchell coming out to bat in his place.
As per a New Zealand Cricket statement, Williamson experienced tightness in his hamstring while completing a run in the tenth over.
Kane Williamson will not return to the field in KFC T20I 2 in Hamilton as a precautionary measure after experiencing tightness in his right hamstring while completing a run in the 10th over and retiring hurt. #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/4KMF1fMmBN
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 14, 2024
Williamson has had a spate of injuries in recent times. He ruptured his ACL in the first match of IPL 2023 and recovered just in time to play the ODI World Cup in India six months later. During the World Cup match against Bangladesh, he suffered a broken thumb forcing him to miss four more games before returning for the clash against Pakistan.
He was named in New Zealand's squad for the T20I series at home against Bangladesh last month before being withdrawn on 'medical advice'. Williamson was to feature in four games of the five-T20I series against Pakistan, missing the third game in Dunedin.