Injured Williamson set to sit out remainder of the Pakistan series

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, who suffered a hamstring injury in the second Twenty20 against Pakistan, is unlikely to take any further part in the series, coach Gary Stead said Monday.

The New Zealand skipper began Sunday's clash without any fitness concerns but retired hurt at the halfway point of the Black Caps' innings after experiencing hamstring tightness. He trudged off the field before the commencement of the 11th over, and did not walk out to bat for the remainder of the innings, despite New Zealand losing 8 wickets.

Williamson was already set to miss the third game on Wednesday, and with the first Test against South Africa less than three weeks away, Stead said his star batsman would probably sit out the final two games as well.

"With the test matches so close as well and in the big scheme of things (they are) a higher priority I think we'll try and make sure he's right for that," Stead said.

New Zealand lead the five-match series 2-0, with Williamson contributing 26 off 15 before retiring hurt in Sunday's second encounter, in which his side won by 21 runs.

Tim Seifert is expected to replace Williamson in the batting line, with Stead indicating Seifert was already set to replace Devon Conway as wicketkeeper at some stage in the series.

(with inputs from AFP)