New Zealand white-ball captain Kane Williamson is unlikely to play on the ODI World Cup later this 12 months however the injured batter may nonetheless journey to India for the marquee-event as a workforce mentor. Head coach Gary Stead stated he would “absolutely” look to make use of the skilled batter and restricted overs skipper in a mentor-type function. Williamson is in rehab after present process a profitable surgical procedure on the anterior cruciate ligament of his proper knee. The 32-year-old had suffered the damage whereas fielding in his debut recreation for the Gujarat Titans within the Indian Premier League final month.

Attempting to cease a six on the boundary, Williamson had jumped excessive and landed awkwardly, injuring his knee. Such was the severity of the damage that he needed to be carried out of the sphere. “It’s still far too early to know. He’s had the operation and, to date, what we know, that’s been successful. So he is in the very, very early stages of his rehab programme,” Stead advised reporters forward of New Zealand’s five-match ODI collection in opposition to Pakistan.

“It’s obviously pretty non-weight-bearing at this stage, and he’s in a brace. It’s really just meeting milestones as we go.” The damage has been all however dominated out the Black Caps skipper from the 50-over match, beginning in October because the anticipated restoration time of an ACL rupture is 9 months.

However, Stead remains to be optimistic.

“Our line around Kane, at the moment, is still it’s unlikely that he will be available, but we certainly don’t want to rule out a person of his class and calibre, and the things he brings to this team, too early in case there is that chance still.” New Zealand ended runners up within the final two 50-over World Cup. Under Williamson’s captaincy, the Black Caps misplaced the final version of the 50-over World Cup in 2019 on boundary rely to hosts England.