New Zealand has been in top form in the ongoing Tri-Series, securing wins in their first two matches in Lahore to book a spot in the final, which will take place at the National Stadium in Karachi. Under Mitchell Santner’s leadership, the team has played some outstanding cricket leading up to the decider.
However, New Zealand will be missing several key players, particularly in the bowling department. The retirement of legendary pacers Trent Boult and Tim Southee has already left a void, and injuries to Rachin Ravindra and Lockie Ferguson have cast doubt on their availability. Adding to their challenges, Ben Sears has failed to recover from a hamstring injury, forcing a change in the squad ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Jacob Duffy joins New Zealand’s ODI squad for the Pakistan tri-series as cover for Ferguson
Jacob Duffy, a 30-year-old pacer who was initially a reserve for the Tri-Series, has been named as Sears’ replacement. With solid numbers in white-ball cricket—18 wickets in 10 ODIs—this will be a big opportunity for Duffy to make an impact. Though he wasn’t part of the original Champions Trophy squad, the tournament’s Event Technical Committee has now officially approved his inclusion.
Duffy was last seen in action for Otago in New Zealand’s Super Smash, where he picked up five wickets in as many matches, averaging 30.80 with an economy rate of 7.83. Otago finished fifth in the standings, missing out on the playoffs with four wins, five losses, and one no-result.
