New Zealand have been dealt a significant blow ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, with fast bowler Ben Sears ruled out due to a hamstring injury. The young pacer, w??ho was set to make his debut in a major ICC event, felt discomfort during the team’s first training session in Karachi. A subsequent scan revealed a minor tear, sidelining him for at least two weeks.

In his place, Jacob Duffy has been? called up to bolster New Zealand??’s bowling attack. The injury not only disrupts Sears�personal milestone but also forces the team to recalibrate their plans for the prestigious tournament.

A dream deferred for Ben Sears

For Sears, the Champions Trophy was supposed to be a career-defining moment. The 25-year-old speedster has been on the rise, impressing with his raw pace and ability to deliver under pressure. However, fate had other plans. During the team’s first training session in Karachi, Sears experienced pain in his left hamstring, which was later dia?gnosed as a minor ?tear. The injury requires a two-week rehabilitation period, effectively ruling him out of the majority of the group stage matches.

Head coach Gary Stead expressed his disappointment in a media release shared by New Zealand, stating: “It’s always tough being ruled out of a major event at such a late stage, and it’s especially tough in Ben’s case given it would have bee??n his first major ICC event.�/em>