New Zealand fast bowler Ben Sears has been ruled out of this month’s Champions Trophy due to a hamstring tear, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced on Friday. Meanwhile, all-rounder Rachin Ravindra has gradually returned to training after suffering a facial injury in a fielding mishap.
Jacob Duffy, already with the squad for the ongoing ODI tri-series in Pakistan, will replace Sears in the Champions Trophy, according to NZC.
“Sears experienced discomfort in his left hamstring during the team’s first training session in Karachi on Wednesday. A subsequent scan revealed a minor tear requiring at least two weeks of rehabilitation,” the statement read.
Ravindra, who was hit on the forehead after losing sight of the ball under floodlights during a match against Pakistan in Lahore last Saturday, still needs to clear concussion protocols before returning to play, head coach Gary Stead confirmed.
Although he initially passed the Head Injury Assessment (HIA) right after the incident, Stead mentioned that the 25-year-old had experienced headaches in the following days and must undergo further evaluations before being deemed fit.
As a result, Ravindra will miss the ODI tri-series final against Pakistan in Karachi on Friday and is unlikely to feature in the Champions Trophy opener against the hosts next Wednesday.
“He had headaches for a few days, but they are now subsiding, which is a positive sign,” Stead said in Karachi, refraining from giving a timeline for his return. “He faced a few balls in training today, which is encouraging, but he still has steps to complete before being cleared to play
