New Delhi: Just 11 days ahead of the marquee Champions Trophy 2025, New Zealand’s leading fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has been declared unfit to participate in the event starting on February 19. Ferguson suffered a hamstring injury during an ILT20 match in the UAE, which will rule him out of the showpiece ICC event.
In the ongoing tri-series, which started on Saturday, involving Pakistan and South Africa, Ferguson will not be able to participate. Meanwhile in the CT 2025, the Kiwis play their opening Group A match in the marquee event against Pakistan at the National Stadium in Karachi on February 19. The Black Caps head coach Gary Stead confirmed that the key pacer has undergone scans to know the extent of the injury.
Exact extent of injury not known: Stead
Stead was quoted as saying by global governing body ICC that Lockie has a scan on Thursday in the UAE and they are waiting for their radiologist to give them a report on the extent of it. ‘Small hamstring injury, by the look of it, so we’re just waiting on a timeline of advice around that before we make a decision on whether Lockie travels to Pakistan or whether we do have to replace him for the Champions Trophy,’ added Stead.
The 33-year-old pacer was unable to bowl the last ball of his spell while playing for the Desert Vipers in the T20 League and left the field due to the injury. Ferguson also missed the next match for Vipers’, the eliminator fixture against Sharjah Warriors. Ferguson, who has played 65 ODI matches and is just a wicket away from completing 100 scalps in the format, said that it is unfortunate that to have had the little hamstring issue.
Apart from the Kiwi team facing the injury concern ahead of CT 2025, Australia have been dealt with severe blows with three of their mainstream players out of the event with injuries.
New Zealand’s Champions Trophy campaign has been hit badly after star pacer Lockie Ferguson’s participation has been declared doubtful for the event. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
