Finn Allen Withdrawn from T20I Tri-Series in Zimbabwe Due to Injury

Finn Allen's Injury Forces Withdrawal from Zimbabwe Series

Finn Allen, the New Zealand opener, will miss the upcoming T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe after suffering a foot injury during the Major League Cricket (MLC) tournament in the United States. While playing for the San Francisco Unicorns, Allen sustained the injury and has been ruled out of international competition.

The tri-series, which includes New Zealand, South Africa, and the host nation Zimbabwe, is set to commence on July 14 in Harare. Allen, a key player in New Zealand's white-ball lineup, was anticipated to open the batting. Instead, he will head back to New Zealand for further medical evaluations to assess the severity of his injury. New Zealand Cricket issued a statement regarding his condition:

“Finn sustained a foot injury during his time in the MLC and has been withdrawn from the Zimbabwe tour as a precautionary measure. He will return to New Zealand for further assessment, and a timeline for recovery will be finalized after specialist input.”

Allen's last appearance in the MLC was on July 6, where he scored only 4 runs against the Los Angeles Knight Riders in Lauderhill, Florida. Despite this, the 25-year-old had a remarkable season, accumulating 333 runs in nine matches, including a record-setting 151 against Washington Freedom, which remains the highest individual score in the league.

This injury also means that Allen will miss the MLC playoffs, where the San Francisco Unicorns are set to compete against MI New York in the Eliminator. Additionally, the team faces further challenges as West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd has left to join the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the Global Super League.

New Zealand is expected to arrive in Zimbabwe on Thursday and will play their first match against South Africa on July 16. A replacement for Allen has not yet been announced, leaving uncertainty regarding New Zealand's opening lineup for the tri-series.