New Zealand’s cricket team has suffered a significant setback ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, with fast bowler Ben Sears ruled out of the tournament due to a hamstring injury. The Kiwi team has announced a replacement player for Sears, with Otago Volts’ paceman Jacob Duffy joining the squad. The New Zealand cricket team is currently in Pakistan, where they are participating in a tri-series ahead of the Champions Trophy.
The injury to Sears occurred during a practice session in Karachi, and subsequent scans revealed that he would need to miss at least two weeks of action. As a result, the team’s head coach, Gary Stead, expressed disappointment at the loss of Sears, saying that it was frustrating to see him ruled out of the tournament, especially since it was his first ICC tournament. Stead noted that Sears’ absence would be felt, but the team would have to adapt and move forward.
In addition to Sears’ injury, the team is also keeping a close eye on the fitness of Rachin Ravindra and Lockie Ferguson. Ravindra suffered a blow to the head while attempting to catch a ball during the first match of the tri-series and has been sidelined since then. Meanwhile, Ferguson is still recovering from a hamstring injury and has not yet regained full fitness. The team will be monitoring their progress closely, as they look to finalize their squad for the Champions Trophy.
The New Zealand team will be hoping to overcome these injury setbacks and make a strong showing in the Champions Trophy, which is set to begin soon. With the tournament just around the corner, the team will need to regroup and refocus in order to achieve their goals. The loss of Sears is a significant blow, but the addition of Duffy to the squad provides some consolation, and the team will be looking to him to make a positive impact. As the tournament approaches, all eyes will be on the Kiwi team to see how they respond to these challenges and perform on the biggest stage.