The pacer Ben Sears has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy due to a hamstring injury and the team management has named Jacob Duffy as replacement.
It was reported that he felt pain in his left hamstring at the team’s training session in Karachi on Wednesday.
A subsequent scan revealed a minor tear that would require at least two weeks of rehabilitation, New Zealand Cricket said in a statement.
That meant Sears would have been available only from the team’s final group match onwards, against India in Dubai on March 02.
Sears played both of New Zealand’s league-stage games in the tri-nation series, but went wicketless after 16 overs, conceding 104 runs in them.
“We’re all really feeling for Ben,” said Stead. “It’s always tough being ruled out of a major event at such a late stage, and it’s especially tough in Ben’s case given it would have been his first major ICC event.
Squad News | Fast bowler Ben Sears has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with a hamstring injury and will be replaced by Jacob Duffy. https://t.co/97RRDrouIG #ChampionsTrophy
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 14, 2025
“The timeframes for Ben to be fit to play again meant he would likely miss the majority of the group stage, and given the short nature of the tournament, we felt it was appropriate to bring in a player who is fully fit and ready to go.
“Ben is a player with huge potential and given the short rehabilitation timeframe, we’re sure he’ll be fit and raring to go for the home series against Pakistan back in New Zealand.
Meanwhile head coach Gary Stead also believes that Duffy was a strong replacement in the squad.
“Jacob showed with his performances in the recent home series against Sri Lanka that he is more than capable at international level.
“He’s been part of the squad for the ODI Tri-Series so he’s fully acclimatised and he’s got plenty of experience in these conditions and is fit and ready to go.
“He’s another player who will be experiencing his first senior ICC event, so it will be an exciting few weeks ahead for him.”
New Zealand will open their Champions Trophy campaign against hosts Pakistan on February 19 at National Stadium Karachi.
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