GUPTILL OUT

WELLINGTON: New Zealand opening batsman Martin Guptill has been ruled out of both limited overs series against Pakistan in the UAE because of injury.

Guptill suffered the knee injury while preparing for a Plunket Shield game with Auckland this week.

A subsequent scan showed he will take up to six weeks to recover. With the twenty20 series against Pakistan opening the tour in Abu Dhabi at the end of the month, swiftly followed by three oneday internationals, Black Caps selector Gavin Larsen said they had no choice but to replace Guptill in the squad.

‘‘Unfortunately, for Martin, it will take him some time to get over this injury and, with a long summer ahead, we need to make sure we minimise the risk of him repeating it,’’ he said.

‘‘[Black Caps coach] Gary Stead and I will work through the possible replacement options. We now have three spots to fill in the T20 and oneday squads.’’

The Black Caps face Pakistan in the first of three T20 Internationals on October 31. Three ODIs and three tests follow.

Recuperating new ball bowler Tim Southee is expected to be fit for the opening T20 match.

Southee has missed the first two rounds of domestic first class cricket as the result of a knee injury, reportedly caused by holding his baby in the same position for too long, creating a repetitive strain niggle. — RNZ