Finn Allen’s Participation in India T20I Series in Doubt

New Zealand cricketer Finn Allen may miss the start of the upcoming five-match T20I series against India. The series is set to begin on January 21, 2024, in Nagpur and serves as a precursor to the ICC T20 World Cup, which will take place in India and Sri Lanka later this year.

Allen’s availability hinges on whether his team, the Perth Scorchers, reaches the final of the Big Bash League (BBL). If the Scorchers qualify for the final, scheduled for January 25, 2024, he will likely be unavailable for the first few matches of the T20I series, potentially returning only for the fourth match on January 28, 2024. The Scorchers’ last league match is on January 17, against the Melbourne Stars in Perth.

Pending selection, Allen expressed his intention to head straight to India following the conclusion of the BBL. In a statement to ESPNcricinfo, he said, “If we finish up early, I’ll head straight to India once the Big Bash finishes up for us.” This highlights his commitment to both club and country amidst a busy playing schedule.

At just 26 years old, Allen has entered a significant phase in his career. He is among a select group of players who have signed casual agreements with New Zealand Cricket (NZC), allowing participation in overseas franchise leagues while maintaining his obligations to the national team. He remarked, “Playing for New Zealand is still, for me, the pinnacle and the reason why I love playing is to represent my country.”

Allen is also making a comeback after recovering from a foot stress fracture, which he sustained earlier this year during the Major League Cricket (MLC). In his MLC debut, he scored an impressive 151 runs, hitting 19 sixes for the San Francisco Unicorns against Washington Freedom at Oakland Coliseum. His overall T20 statistics are noteworthy, with a total of 4,415 runs at a strike rate of 173.81. Within this, he has contributed 1,285 runs for New Zealand at a remarkable strike rate of 163.27.

As the T20I series approaches, both fans and selectors will be keenly watching Allen’s situation, eager to see if he can balance his commitments effectively and make a strong return to international cricket.