New Zealand look to clinch T20I series as new dad Kane Williamson returns

Black Caps coach Gary Stead said he was glad to see star batsman and skipper Kane Williamson join the squad ahead of the second Twenty20 International (T20I) against Pakistan in Hamilton on Sunday.

The 30-year-old did not feature in New Zealand’s second-Test victory over the West Indies in Wellington, which finished last Monday, to be at home in Tauranga with wife Sarah Raheem ahead of the arrival of their first child. He also missed the first T20I against Pakistan on Friday.

“He’s quite tired, a bit bleary-eyed, I think,” Stead said according to stuff.co.nz “But overall, he’s hitting them well. Just normal Kane, gets about his business.”

Williamson was also happy to be back with his team after going through an “incredibly special experience”.

“Obviously you get a lot of advice along the way on what to expect and you try to take that into account, but you can't quite expect it, eh,” Williamson said in an interview with the New Zealand Cricket media team.

“It’s just an incredibly special experience to have. It’s really hard to put words into how you feel and going through it, and the appreciation you have for your wives and partners, that are obviously bearing so much of that whole experience,” he added.

“It’s just so amazing, really, to be there through it, and obviously to have a few days at home has been really, really cool. But at the same time, it’s nice to get back with the guys and looking forward to getting involved in these T20s,” he further stated.

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New Zealand, who won the first T20I by five wickets, will look to seal the three-match series on Sunday especially with the return of their star pacers, Tim Southee and Trent Boult, who were rested in the first game.

Meanwhile, Pakistan have got their work cut out as they look to stay alive in the series bearing in mind the fact that they are without the services of their premier batsman and skipper Babar Azam — who was ruled of the out entire series due to a thumb injury.

Pakistan squad:

Shadab Khan (c), Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Wahab Riaz.

New Zealand squad:

Kane Williamson (c), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Martin Guptill, Kyle Jamieson, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee.