New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson faces uncertainty over his participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy after sustaining a hamstring injury during the International League T20 (ILT20). The injury occurred while he was leading the Desert Vipers in a qualifier match against the Dubai Capitals on Wednesday. Ferguson left the field with one ball remaining in his spell, with former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir stepping in to complete the over. The Capitals secured victory and advanced to the final.
Following the match, Ferguson described the situation as unfortunate, expressing disappointment at not being able to bowl his final delivery. He underwent scans on Thursday to assess the extent of the injury, with New Zealand coach Gary Stead confirming that the team is awaiting a full report from radiologists before making a decision on his availability for the Champions Trophy and the upcoming tri-series in Pakistan.
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Stead acknowledged that Ferguson’s injury appears to be minor but emphasized the need for medical advice before deciding whether he will travel to Pakistan or require a replacement for the Champions Trophy. If ruled out, it would be a significant setback for New Zealand, as Ferguson is the most experienced pacer in the squad, having played 65 ODIs and taken 99 wickets. His absence would be particularly impactful as the team transitions from its golden era of fast bowlers, including Trent Boult, Tim Southee, and Matt Henry, to a new generation.
With Ferguson sidelined, Wellington pacer Ben Sears could be an option for New Zealand. Sears, who has played 17 T20Is and a Test match, is uncapped in ODIs and is returning to the squad after knee surgery that kept him out of recent series against India, Sri Lanka, and England. Jacob Duffy is also in the squad as a backup for Ferguson and could be considered if Ferguson is unable to recover in time.
Ferguson missed Desert Vipers’ eliminator clash against Tim Southee’s Sharjah Warriors on Friday, with Sam Curran stepping in as captain. At the toss, Curran confirmed Ferguson’s injury but noted that the bowler had not disclosed its severity to the team. In his debut ILT20 season, Ferguson has played eight matches, taking 11 wickets at an average of 18.18. His workload has been carefully managed by his franchise, with Vipers’ director of cricket Tom Moody acknowledging the challenge of balancing player rotation in a packed schedule.
Moody highlighted the mental and physical fatigue associated with tournament cricket, explaining that players have had limited opportunities to recover due to the condensed format. He emphasized that managing player fitness is crucial, particularly for fast bowlers like Ferguson, Mohammad Amir, and Luke Wood, who have been rotated throughout the tournament.
With the Champions Trophy just two weeks away, New Zealand is set to face Pakistan in the tournament opener on February 19 in Karachi. The team is currently in Pakistan for a tri-series involving South Africa, with their first match against the hosts scheduled for Saturday. They will then face South Africa in Lahore on February 10 before the final takes place on February 14 in Karachi.
Stead hinted that New Zealand will rotate its seamers during the tri-series to ensure they are fully fit for the Champions Trophy. He acknowledged the need to manage player workloads, particularly in varying weather conditions, with games played in both hot daytime temperatures and cooler evening settings.
New Zealand’s squad will be strengthened by the return of batters Kane Williamson and Devon Conway, who have completed their franchise commitments in SA20 with Durban Super Giants and Joburg Super Kings, respectively. Meanwhile, Ferguson’s inclusion in the Champions Trophy squad remains uncertain, especially considering he opted out of a central contract and has not played an ODI since the 2023 World Cup. Teams have until February 12 to finalize any changes to their squads.
NZ squad for tri-nation series:
New Zealand squad for tri-series and Champions Trophy: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Jacob Duffy
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