We can term this as a big blow to the New Zealand cricket team, as they have now lost their opener Martin Guptill to injury who will not be available for the limited overs leg of the UAE tour against Pakistan. The same was recently confirmed by Kiwi selector Gavin Larsen on Friday, October 19th.
Guptill had sustained a calf strain during a net session for Auckland in the ongoing Plunkett Shield tournament. He was named in both of New Zealand’s ODI and T20I squads but this injury means he won’t be taking part in the limited overs segment in UAE.
Speaking after the injury, Martin Guptill was so gutted to get ruled out of international cricket for New Zealand. His last international appearance for New Zealand was in March earlier this year – in an ODI against England in Christchurch, and he would’ve definitely been raring to get back in national colours.
“I had a pretty good winter, injury-less, and picked up a little tweak in the Caribbean [CPL] and to come back and to be tracking well with that and to get a different injury is extremely frustrating and a bit gutting,” Guptill said.
Guptill sustained this calf strain injury while preparing for a First Class game for Auckland. He backed his decision of playing in the longer format though he is not a regular Test match player for New Zealand in the recent past. Guptill’s last appearance in Tests was against India back in the year 2016.
“There’s a big summer ahead and I’ve got to get right for that. I’ve still got aspirations to play test cricket so playing out here for Auckland this week was going to be a step towards that. I’ve got to focus on the next part of my rehab and get back there fit and strong,” added Guptill, so seems eager to get back soon.
In this tour of UAE, New Zealand will play three T20Is, three ODIs and three Test matches against Pakistan starting with the T20Is from October 31. This immediately follows Australia’s tour to UAE, where they recently wrapped up the Test series (Pakistan won 1-0) and will now be starting a 3-match T20I series.
