New Zealand opener Finn Allen has been sidelined from the upcoming T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe due to a foot injury sustained during the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) tournament in the United States. Allen, who was representing the San Francisco Unicorns, picked up the injury during his stint in the franchise league and has now been withdrawn from international duty. The tri-series, featuring New Zealand, South Africa, and hosts Zimbabwe, begins on July 14 in Harare. Allen, a vital cog in New Zealand’s white-ball setup, was expected to open the innings during the series. Instead, he will now return home for further scans and specialist consultations to determine the extent of the damage. New Zealand Cricket released a statement confirming, “Finn sustained a foot injury during his time in the MLC and has been withdrawn from the Zimbabwe tour as a precautionary measure. He will return to New Zealand for further assessment, and a timeline for recovery will be finalised after specialist input.” Read also: NZ Test Squad vs Zimbabwe: Kane, Bracewell to Miss Series Unicorns Lose Allen and Shepherd Ahead of Playoffs Allen’s last MLC appearance came on July 6, where he was dismissed for just 4 runs against the Los Angeles Knight Riders in Lauderhill, Florida. However, the 25-year-old had otherwise enjoyed a prolific season, amassing 333 runs across nine games. His standout innings came against Washington Freedom, where he smashed a record-breaking 151 — still the highest individual score in the league. The setback also rules Allen out of the MLC playoffs, where the San Francisco Unicorns are set to face MI New York in the Eliminator. Compounding their problems, West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd has exited the team to join Guyana Amazon Warriors for the Global Super League. New Zealand is scheduled to land in Zimbabwe on Thursday and face South Africa in their opening match on July 16. A replacement for Allen is yet to be named, leaving a question mark over New Zealand’s opening combination for the tri-series.