A day later, the Champions Trophy begins. New Zealand will face Pakistan in the opening match in Karachi on Wednesday. New Zealand heard bad news a day before that match. Pacer Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy squad with a right foot injury. He has been replaced by another pacer Kyle Jamieson in the New Zealand team.
Jamieson, who played 45 international matches for New Zealand, last played an ODI against Bangladesh in Mirpur in September 2023. The 30-year-old Jamieson last played for New Zealand in a Test in February last year.
New Zealand’s dream of winning the Champions Trophy by losing Ferguson is a big blow. The Kiwis lost another pacer Ben Sears this week due to injury. New Zealand brought in Jacob Duffy in place of Sears.
Ferguson was not allowed to play in the Pakistan tri-series due to an injury during the IPL T20 tournament in the United Arab Emirates. But then Ferguson played a warm-up match against Afghanistan. But in the end, Ferguson was knocked out of the Champions Trophy team due to injury.