Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2021 with a calf tear, New Zealand Cricket said in a statement less than an hour before the team's opening game, against Pakistan in Sharjah, on Tuesday.
Ferguson will be replaced by Adam Milne, who was already part of the reserves, in a like-for-like right-arm fast paceman swap - subject to approval from the ICC's technical committee.
"Ferguson felt tightness in his right calf following training and a subsequent MRI scan on game-day revealed a grade two tear which would require three to four weeks recovery," the NZC statement said.
New Zealand's schedule for the group stage matches of the T20 World Cup will have them playing five games in 13 days, and coach Gary Stead said they had no option but to rule Ferguson out of the tournament.
"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," Stead said. "He's a massive part of our T20 side and has been in such good form - so to lose him at this time is a blow.
"However, we are fortunate to have a like for like replacement in the form of Adam Milne who has been with the squad training for the past two weeks."
Milne is already in the UAE with the team, having been selected in the squad as traveling injury cover, but won't be available to play until ICC approval has been received, making him unavailable for the game against Pakistan.
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