BLACKCAPS leg spinner Ish Sodhi has been ruled out of the KFC T20I series against South Africa with a broken thumb.
Sodhi was hit on the thumb while bowling at team training at Bay Oval on Saturday and a subsequent scan revealed a break which will require at least four weeks rehabilitation.
With Lockie Ferguson joining the squad for the second and third matches in Hamilton and Auckland, no replacement will be brought in to the squad for the next match.
BLACKCAPS head coach Rob Walter was understandably disappointed for Sodhi.
“Ish is very passionate about playing for New Zealand and we know he was looking forward to turning out in front of home fans after the World Cup campaign,” he said.
“He is hugely experienced in the T20 format and so will be a big miss for the remainder of the series.
“We’re confident with Lockie coming in, as well as Mitch (Santner) and Cole (McConchie) that we have appropriate cover for the next two matches, before the squad transitions for the last two matches.”
The BLACKCAPS relocate to Hamilton today ahead of the second KFC T20I against South Africa tomorrow at Seddon Park.
