Kane Williamson to Miss ODI World Cup Due to Surgery
Kane Williamson, the captain of New Zealand’s ODI team, has been ruled out of the upcoming World Cup in India due to a serious knee injury. The injury occurred during his first match of the IPL season for the Gujarat Titans, where he landed awkwardly while attempting a catch at the deep square leg boundary.
Williamson has since returned to New Zealand, where he was diagnosed with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
The player will require surgery on his injured right knee, and the standard rehabilitation timeline indicates that he is unlikely to be fit and available for selection for the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup in India. The cricket board has issued a statement confirming this.
Before this, the player had been ruled out of the Indian Premier League(IPL) and has since been replaced by Sri Lanka’s all-rounder Dasun Shanaka.
Words from Williamson and His Achievements
The New Zealand skipper was grateful for the support he received since the injury and has since released a statement to reassure everyone. Despite the setback, the 32-year-old remains optimistic about his return to the field.
“Naturally, it’s disappointing to get such an injury, but my focus now is on having the surgery and starting rehab. It’s going to take some time, but I’ll be doing everything I can to get back on the field as soon as possible,” Williamson said in a statement.
Williamson is expected to have knee surgery within the next three weeks.
This news comes as a significant blow for New Zealand, who will miss the services of one of their best players and leaders in the tournament. Williamson boasts an average of 47.83 in 161 ODIs with 13 centuries, making him a valuable asset to the team.
He is also one of the top batsmen in cricket and played a crucial role in New Zealand’s progress to the final of the 2019 World Cup.
Team Statements
Coach Gary Stead acknowledged the magnitude of the loss, both on and off the field. However, Stead remains hopeful that Williamson may play some part in the tournament. “It’s a huge spanner in the works for us,” he said.
“We haven’t given up hope that he might be right, but at this stage, it looks unlikely. Our first thoughts are with Kane; it’s a tough time for him. It’s not an injury that you’d expect; it’s come out of the blue, and it obviously hits you hard at the time.”
Tom Latham, who captained the New Zealand team in Williamson’s absence earlier this year, is expected to lead the ODI squad on the upcoming tour of Pakistan and could be the frontrunner for the World Cup role.
The World Cup is expected to begin in early October, with the major nations starting their campaigns towards the end of the month. Organizers have yet to announce firm dates for the tournament, but it is anticipated that the event will go ahead as planned.
While Williamson’s absence would be a significant blow to any team, the Black Caps have a history of punching above their weight and will no doubt rally behind their captain even if he is unable to play. As Williamson himself said, “I look forward to doing what I can to support Gary and the team over the next few months.”
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