Mitchell Santner tests Covid positive, ruled out of the first T20I against Pakistan

New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner has been tested Covid positive.

New Zealand all-rounder, Mitchell Santner missed the first T20I between New Zealand and Pakistan, which was played in Auckland on January 12, 2024, after he had tested positive for COVID-19.

The all-rounder is currently staying in isolation in a hotel in Auckland and will travel to Hamilton, solo, for the second T20I which will be played on Sunday, January 14 at Seddon Park. He wasn’t included in New Zealand’s playing XI for the first of the five T20Is.

New Zealand Cricket on Friday, January 12, released a statement to confirm Santner’s unavailability from the opening game of the five-match T20I series.

“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,” the statement from NZC read.

Santner, a key member of Kiwi T20I squad, and so far has scored 610 runs in 64 innings at an average of 16.94, including one half-century. He has also been a consistent bowler, taking 105 wickets in 93 appearances. Ish Sodhi was the specialty spinner in New Zealand’s XI in the first Twenty20 International against Pakistan.

New Zealand defeats Pakistan in the 1st T20I

Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi, making his captaincy debut in T20Is, won the toss and chose to field first. New Zealand posted 228/6 in 20 overs with Daryl Mitchell making 61, Kane Williamson scoring 57, Finn Allen making 34 in 15 balls and Mark Chapman scoring 26 runs.

For Pakistan, debutant Abbas Afridi took 3/34, while skipper Shaheen took 3/46.

In response, despite 57 from Babar Azam, and contributions from Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub and Iftikhar Ahmed, none of the other Pakistan batters managed to play a long innings and they were bundled out for 180 runs in 18 overs.

New Zealand won the first T20I by 46 runs and went 1-0 up in the five-match T20I series.

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