New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to injury.
The pacer experienced discomfort in his leg during a warm-up match, and after undergoing a medical assessment, New Zealand Cricket confirmed that he would not be fit for the tournament.
To fill the gap left by Ferguson, New Zealand has added Kyle Jamieson to their squad as his replacement. The team is already dealing with injury setbacks, as just a few days ago, another fast bowler, Ben Sears, was also ruled out due to a hamstring injury sustained during a training session in Karachi.
Injury concerns are not limited to New Zealand, as multiple teams are facing similar issues ahead of the tournament. Pakistan’s Saim Ayub and India’s Jasprit Bumrah have also been ruled out due to injuries. Meanwhile, Australia’s star fast bowler Mitchell Starc has withdrawn from the Champions Trophy for personal reasons.
Afghanistan is also affected, with spinner A.M. Ghazanfar unavailable due to fitness issues. Similarly, South Africa will be without their key fast bowler, Anrich Nortje, further highlighting the injury crisis affecting multiple teams.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to take place in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, and with key players missing, teams will have to adjust their strategies to cope with these unexpected setbacks.
