Shimron Hetmyer ruled out of ILT20 due to hamstring injury

Desert Vipers batter Shimron Hetmyer has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing ILT20 season due to a hamstring injury. Hetmyer got injured while playing against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) earlier this week, and has been replaced in Vipers' squad by former England batter Jason Roy.

Hetmyer played in all seven games for Vipers so far this season, but had a quiet time with the bat. He scored just 111 runs in six innings at an average of 18.50, although at an impactful strike rate of 160.86. Hetmyer's highest score was the 48 off 25 balls he smashed against ADKR on December 5.

Roy, meanwhile, enters the ILT20 after three matches for Pokhara Avengers in the Nepal Premier League, where he scored 68 runs at an average of 34. Before that, he was at the Abu Dhabi T10, where he was Royal Champs' captain. Roy also has previous experience of playing in the ILT20. In 2024, he played two matches for ADKR, while next season, he played 12 games for Sharjah Warriorz, and got 298 runs at an average of 29.80.

"We are extremely disappointed to lose a player of Shimron's quality and experience as he has played a positive role in our squad this season, but securing someone of Jason's pedigree and experience certainly softens that blow," Tom Moody, Vipers' Director of Cricket, said.

"Jason ticks all the boxes for us. He knows the format inside-out, he is a versatile batter who can go through the gears, he provides us options up and down the order, he has been playing recently and he has experience in the ILT20."

Vipers are currently at the top of the points table, with six wins in seven games. The one-run loss they suffered against ADKR this week was their first after six back-to-back victories to start the tournament. Vipers are next in action on Sunday evening, when they face Warriorz in Dubai, with their new recruit Roy having already arrived there.