New Zealand are scheduled to tour Pakistan for the first time since 2003-04 for a three-match ODI and a five-match T20I series.

Ahead of the ODI series opener in Rawalpindi on Friday, the tourists have announced that wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Blundell will miss the ODI series owing to a left quad strain he picked up during New Zealand’s 3-2 T20I series defeat in Bangladesh.

Kiwi all-rounder Daryl Mitchell, who was initially picked for the T20I series against Pakistan, has been named Blundell's replacement and will join the ODI squad after completing his mandatory quarantine.

“Obviously everyone is gutted for Tom, he's a quality player with a diverse skill-set. He'll remain with the squad and we're hopeful he'll be available again for the T20I series. With Tom out, we do lose our first choice backup wicket-keeping option,” stand-in coach Glenn Pocknall said in a team statement.

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“However, there are several guys in the squad with keeping experience and we'll ensure they do the necessary work at training to be up to speed if called upon,” he added.

Pocknall and Shane Jurgensen will split coaching duties in Pakistan as regular coach Gary Stead decided to stay back home in New Zealand.

“The injury is not quite where we want it so we think it’s best for him to concentrate on his rehab given the big summer of cricket ahead," physio Nishil Shah said.

As far as New Zealand’s tour of Pakistan is concerned, the two teams will be locking horns in Rawalpindi for three-ODIs on September 17,19 and 21 followed by five T20Is at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from September 25 to October 3.

(With Reuters Inputs)