Hamstring injury has forced Doug Bracewell out of the five-match One-Day International series against Pakistan, New Zealand Cricket confirmed on Thursday. George Worker will replace the pacer. New Zealand and Pakistan will play five ODIs, starting from January 6, before playing a three-match T20I series. It is a blow for Bracewell, who had made a promising return to international cricket in 2017.  

"Doug's worked really hard to make it back into the side after a pretty serious injury last year and he's impressed in the opportunities he's had. We know he's a hard trainer and back him to rehab well and be available for selection in the not too distant future," Mike Hesson, the New Zealand coach, said.

Bracewell injured himself during the third and final Twenty20 International against Windies and was forced to leave the field. Worker, on the other hand, had been dropped earlier to accommodate Martin Guptill at the top of the order. He impressed with his half-centuries against Windies in ODIs and also racked up a 38-ball 75 against Northern Districts to earn the recall.

Central Stags teammate George Worker will replace Bracewell in the 13-man squad, which has been named for the first two matches of the five-game series. All-rounder Colin de Grandhomme, absent recently due to a family bereavement, is set to return for the Auckland Aces on January 7 and 10 and Hesson was hopeful he may be available later in the Pakistan ODI series. The first match is at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Saturday. There will also be three T20 matches against Pakistan, beginning January 22