Wellington, Nov 3 (ANI): New Zealand will be playing against Pakistan in the first ODI at Abu Dhabi without their top ranked one-day bowler Kyle Mills, who has picked up a shoulder injury.

Captain Daniel Vettori said Mills would be missed by the Black Caps.

“I think everyone knows he’s the number one bowler in the world in one-day cricket so it’ll be a big loss for us,” the New Zealand Herald quoted Vettpri, as saying.

Mills is expected to be available for the second one-day match.

The Black Caps, already coming into the series missing opening batsman Jesse Ryder, seamer Daryl Tuffey and all-rounder Grant Elliott, could also be without Ian Butler, who picked up a knee injury during the recent Champions League Twenty20 tournament.

That leaves an opening for the recalled Tim Southee, and Vettori also indicated New Zealand are likely to look at a two-man spin option with the captain aided by off-spinner Nathan McCullum.

“We haven’t seen the wicket yet,” he said after the team arrived in Abu Dhabi following preparations in Dubai.

“But we saw the history of it in the Pakistan-Australia matches (in April and May) and spinners dominated from early on so it’s more than likely we’ll go with two spinners and hopefully that works,” he added. (ANI)