Finn Allen out of MLC playoffs, Zimbabwe tri-series due to foot injury

New Zealand opener Finn Allen has been ruled out of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 playoffs and the upcoming T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe due to a foot injury. The batter sustained the injury while playing for the San Francisco Unicorns, leading to a setback for both his franchise and the national side.

Allen’s MLC 2025 campaign began on a positive note. In the opening match against Washington Freedom, he smashed 151 off just 51 balls at the Oakland Coliseum. The knock featured 19 sixes, surpassing Chris Gayle’s long-standing record for most sixes in a T20 innings. He also reached 150 in just 49 balls, the fastest in men’s T20 history.

Across nine matches, Allen scored 333 runs, becoming the Unicorns’ second-highest run-scorer. However, his campaign ended on a poor note after he was dismissed for just four in his final outing against the Los Angeles Knight Riders on July 6, after which the injury was confirmed.

New Zealand to announce Finn Allen's replacement

The San Francisco Unicorns will miss Allen’s services in the Eliminator against MI New York. Notably, the franchise has not named a replacement yet. Furthermore, they are also missing West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd, who has returned home for commitments with the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Global Super League. Allen’s injury has led him to miss the upcoming Zimbabwe series for his national side. With the tri-series in Zimbabwe, featuring South Africa, the hosts, and the BlackCaps. 

According to New Zealand Cricket (NZC), Allen’s recovery timeline will be confirmed following further medical evaluation once he returns home. The board confirmed a replacement will be announced shortly for the Zimbabwe tour. New Zealand will kick off their tri-series campaign against South Africa on July 16 in Harare.