T20 World Cup 2021: New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson ruled out of entire tournament due to a calf tear

New Zealand started their T20 WC campaign against Pakistan in Sharjah.

New Zealand suffered a huge blow to their chances in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2021 as pacer Lockie Ferguson was ruled out of the entire tournament due to a calf muscle tear, the team said in a statement on Tuesday.

New Zealand Cricket said the 30-year-old felt tightness in his right calf after a training session and an MRI scan ahead of their tournament-opening match against Pakistan on Tuesday revealed a grade two tear which would rule him out for up to four weeks.

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NZC also announced that Ferguson will be replaced by Adam Milne in the 15-member squad, subject to approval by the International Cricket Council's Technical Committee.

"It's a real shame for Lockie to have this happen on the eve of the tournament and the entire team is really feeling for him right now. However, we are fortunate to have a like-for-like replacement in the form of Adam who has been with the squad training for the past two weeks,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said in a statement.

Milne needs ICC approval to officially become eligible to be part of the New Zealand playing XI.

(Reuters inputs)