New Zealand Pace Bowler Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out from the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup due to tear muscle rips, the team said in a statement on Tuesday.
Cricket New Zealand said at the age of 30 years felt his back in his right calf after the training session and MRI scanning ahead of the opening tournament against Pakistan on Tuesday revealed the two-class tears that would rule it for four weeks.
He will be replaced in a 15 players squad by Adam Milne, subject to approval by the Technical Committee of the International Cricket Board.
“It was very embarrassing for Lockie to have this happening on the night of the tournament and the whole team really felt it now,” said New Zealand coach Gary Stead in a statement.
“He is mostly from our side and has been in a good form – so losing him now is a blow.” However, we are fortunate to have a substitute like-like in the form of Adam who has been with the training squad for the past two weeks.
“Milne won’t play in the game on Tuesday because she awaits ICC approval.
New Zealand has never passed the last four in the past six World Cups but confidence will be high after the T20 series of houses fight West Indies, Pakistan, Australia and Bangladesh in the past two years.