Pak vs NZ: Mitch Santner tests positive for COVID-19 ahead of first T20I

Left-arm New Zealand bowling all-rounder Mitchell Santner has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the T20I series against Pakistan beginning on Friday (today) in Auckland, New Zealand.

The New Zealand Cricket announced in a tweet that Santner would not travel to Eden Park Stadium for the first T20I against the tourists Friday evening. The NZ cricket body said the cricketer would be monitored for a few days.

“Mitch Santner won’t travel to Eden Park this evening for the opening KFC T20I against Pakistan after testing positive for COVID earlier today. He will continue to be monitored over the coming days and will travel solo home to Hamilton. #NZvPAK,” the NZC wrote on X.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the playing XI to take on Kiwis in a five-match T20I series. 

Today’s match will mark left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi’s first assignment as a captain, having taken over the reins from Babar Azam.

Rizwan and Saim will open the match with Babar Azam featuring in the middle order. Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Azam Khan will show up at the crease on the fourth, fifth and sixth positions, respectively. Aamir Jamal and Usama Mir will bat on seventh and eighth number.

Fourth-ranked Pakistan last played T20Is back in April 2023, when they faced New Zealand at home for a five-match series played in Lahore and Rawalpindi. Wicket keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, who has been named Shaheen’s vice-captain, was Pakistan’s leading run-getter in the series. Right-arm pacer Haris Rauf was the most successful bowler during that assignment.