New Zealand pacer Matt Henry off to Bangladesh as cover for Covid positive Finn Allen

Fast bowler Matt Henry has been called into New Zealand's T20I squad in Bangladesh as replacement for Finn Allen, who is currently quarantining after testing positive for Covid-19. 29-year-old Henry has played just six T20Is in his career with his last outing in the format coming in 2017.

New Zealand and Bangladesh will lock horns in a 5-match T20I series starting September 1 in Dhaka. Interestingly. New Zealand have not sent any of their T20 World Cup-bound players on the tour. Wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Latham will lead the side in the absence of regular captain Kane Williamson. 

"Matt’s clearly not a like-for-like replacement for Finn, but he expands our selection options and, in the current circumstances, is the best equipped to join the side at such short notice," New Zealand coach Gary Stead said in a team release on Friday.

Allen, who is fully vaccinated, tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday after arriving from England.

The T20I series will conclude on September 10. 

New Zealand squad for Bangladesh T20Is: Tom Latham (captain), Finn Allen, Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell, Doug Bracewell, Colin de Grandhomme, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Scott Kuggeleijn, Cole McConchie, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Blair Tickner, Will Young.