Matt Henry, a New Zealand pacer, could miss the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against India, which will take place in Dubai on Sunday, March 9. The New Zealand team delivered South Africa a stunning defeat in the second semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
On Wednesday, March 5, the 33-year-old right-arm bowler Matt Henry seemed to suffer a shoulder injury while making a crucial catch at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The incident occurred in the 29th over when Henry tried to catch Heinrich Klassen off the bowling of Mitchell Santner.
Mitchell Santner bowled a length delivery to Klaasen on the fourth ball of the over. Klaasen tried his preferred pull stroke but failed to make a solid contact.
Henry rushed in, moved forward, and made the grab despite receiving a strong blow to his right shoulder as the ball came off the bottom of the bat towards the long-on.
After taking the catch, Henry appeared to be in pain. Soon, the physio arrived, and the pacer walked off the field, injured. Henry did return to bowl two more overs late in Proteas' innings, but the New Zealand team registered a comfortable win.
Now New Zealand coach Gary Stead has provided an update on Matt Henry’s shoulder injury and stated that his availability for Sunday’s final against India in Dubai is “a bit unknown”.
"I guess the positive thing from our perspective is he got back out there to bowl. We've had some scans and stuff done on him, and we're going to give him every chance to be playing in this match. [But it's] still a little bit unknown at this stage. He's obviously pretty sore just from landing on the point of his shoulder. Hopefully, he will be okay,” Stead was quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
Matt Henry is the top wicket-taker inthe Champions Trophy with 10 scalps at an average of 16.70. Five of those wickets came against India in the group match, that was played on March 2 in Dubai.
If Henry fails to get fit in time, New Zealand has the option to bring in Jacob Duffy in his place. Duffy has not played any of New Zealand's four matches in the tournament but did have an outing against Pakistan in the pre-tournament tri-series in Pakistan.
