New Zealand will be without their attacking opener Finn Allen for the upcoming T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe. The Black Caps are set to face South Africa and Zimbabwe in a three-team competition, starting July 14, at the Harare Sports Club.
Allen’s absence is a big loss for New Zealand with the 2026 T20 World Cup on the horizon. He has been one of New Zealand’s most exciting players in the shorter format and was expected to play a key role in the series. Now, the focus will shift to finding a suitable replacement at the top of the order.
New Zealand Cricket has confirmed that a replacement player will be named soon. The tri-series is an important opportunity to test combinations. Without Finn Allen, the team’s balance could be affected, when it comes to scoring quickly in the powerplay.
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Finn Allen’s Foot Injury Forces Him Out of Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series
Allen picked up a foot injury while playing for the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket 2025 (MLC 2025). Allen had started the tournament in sensational fashion, smashing 151 runs off just 51 balls.
He is expected to return to New Zealand for further medical consultation. According to the board, his recovery timeline will be confirmed only after he sees specialists at home.
"Allen’s recovery timeline will be determined once he has returned to New Zealand and received further specialist consultations," New Zealand Cricket said in a statement.
New Zealand will miss Allen’s aggressive style of play at the top. Without him, the side could struggle to maintain that same level of intensity in the early overs.
The team management now has a tough job of filling that gap. With the tri-series only days away, they will have to move quickly to finalise a replacement.
New Zealand Squad for Tri-Series in Zimbabwe
Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi.
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