New Zealand may be forced to face India in their crunch Twenty20 clash on Sunday without Martin Guptill after the ‘Black Caps’ opening batter injured his toe in their opening loss to Pakistan.
Guptill, New Zealand’s most experienced short format international, took a blow to the big toe from a Haris Rauf delivery just before he was dismissed for 17 during the five-wicket loss to Pakistan in Sharjah on Tuesday.
“We’ll see how he scrubs up,” head coach Gary Stead told reporters. “He looked in a little bit of discomfort at the end of the game and it might take 24 to 48 hours to see how he goes.”
The injury comes as a second blow to New Zealand after paceman Lockie Ferguson was ruled out of the tournament with a calf muscle tear on Tuesday.
Stead said he had been disappointed that the International Cricket Council’s Technical Committee had not approved Adam Milne as Ferguson’s replacement in time to play the Pakistan match.
“We tried pretty hard to get across the line with the ICC our replacement player, but it wasn’t to be,” he added.—Agencies
