Doubt clouded preparatory plans for New Zealand heading towards the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with uncertainty surrounding fast bowler Lockie Ferguson’s availability after suffering a hamstring injury while participating in the UAE. The experienced speedster had to leave the field well before the completion of the spell, creating doubts about upcoming high-profile engagements.
Following the injury, Ferguson underwent a scan on Thursday for evaluation of how serious the problem would be. New Zealand head coach Gary Stead confirmed that they were awaiting reports from the radiologist before making a decision on Ferguson’s availability for the Tri-Series in Pakistan and the Champions Trophy.
“Lockie had a scan yesterday [Thursday] in the UAE,” Stead said on the eve of tri-series opener. “We’ve got the images here and [we are] waiting for our radiologist to give us 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 here [Pakistan] or whether we do have to replace him for the Champions Trophy.”
Ferguson happens to be the most experienced fast bowler in the New Zealand Champions Trophy squad and serves as one of the spearheads in the Black Caps attack on subcontinent pitches. His absence would indeed leave a big void, particularly with fellow quick Ben Sears currently still recovering following knee surgery. Sears has participated in 17 T20Is and one Test, but he is yet to make his ODI debut, thus making Ferguson’s injury a major concern to the Kiwis.
Jacob Duffy is on standby as seamer in the already announced squad of New Zealand to fill the void made by Ferguson’s injury. However, with less than two weeks remaining before the first match on February 19 against Pakistan in Karachi in the Champions Trophy, the team management may well have to name a replacement if Ferguson is unable to recover in time.
New Zealand is gearing up for the Champions Trophy, which will include a tri-series with Pakistan and South Africa. The first match takes place on Saturday. The side will play a day match against the Proteas in Lahore on February 10, with the rest of the fixtures scheduled as day-night.
Stead said the bowlers would also have strict controls on their workloads, but fitness for the players was to be prioritised.
“It will depend on how people shape up, especially the bowlers, after this first game and what their loads are like and then what the conditions are like as well,” he said. “It’s not quite as hot as you think it would be in Asia. It still gets pretty cold here in the evenings, but if you bowl in the heat of the day, it might take more out of the bowlers. So, we will just manage that and be smart around it, understanding that the big tournament is the Champions Trophy.”
Amidst all this uncertainty surrounding Ferguson, New Zealand has been boosted with the return of captain Kane Williamson and top-order batter Devon Conway. The two players have also rejoined the squad in Lahore after completing their franchise commitments with Durban’s Super Giants (DSG) and Joburg Super Kings (JSK) in the SA20 League.
Their presence will be a key factor as New Zealand hones its selection for this marquee ICC event.
