Matt Henry Out of T20I Series as Pakistan Stages Stunning Comeback

Auckland, New Zealand — New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry will miss the remainder of the T20I series against Pakistan due to a shoulder injury sustained during the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final against South Africa. Henry’s absence comes as the Blackcaps lead the five-match series 2-1, following a thrilling third T20I where Pakistan chased down a historic target of 205 runs.

Despite returning briefly to bowl after his injury, Henry was unable to participate in the final match against India, which led New Zealand Cricket to confirm his continued rehabilitation. “Blackcaps pace-bowler Matt Henry has been ruled out of the remainder of the KFC T20I series against Pakistan,” the organization stated in a release.

Henry’s injury has prompted a reshuffle in the Kiwi squad, with Zak Foulkes remaining for the final two matches. Will O’Rourke has stepped in to replace Kyle Jamieson, who also had to exit due to injury, allowing for a strategic remix of players as New Zealand aims to clamp down on Pakistan’s momentum.

Pakistan’s recent victory in the third T20I featured a remarkable performance by Hasan Nawaz, who scored an unbeaten 105 off 45 balls, marking the fastest T20I century by a Pakistani player, surpassing Babar Azam‘s previous record of 49 balls. Skipper Salman Ali Agha‘s pivotal 51 runs off 31 balls further complemented Nawaz’s explosive innings, securing the chase in just 16 overs. This victory broke South Africa’s previous record for the fastest chase of a target over 200 runs.

New Zealand had initially posted a competitive score, bolstered by Mark Chapman‘s 94 runs from 44 balls. Chapman, with 636 runs from 20 innings against Pakistan, now needs just 32 more runs to surpass Kane Williamson as the highest run-scorer in T20Is against Pakistan. Williamson currently holds the record with 667 runs from 21 matches.

As the series stands at 2-1, both teams are poised for an intense final stretch. New Zealand will aim to secure their series victory on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at Mount Maunganui. Meanwhile, Pakistan, riding the wave of their stunning comeback, is eager to push the series to a decisive fifth match.

Fans can expect an exhilarating showdown as both teams gear up for a high-stakes final leg in this exciting series.