Aaron Finch likely to undergo knee surgery, racing against time to get fit before T20 World Cup

Australia ODI and T20I skipper Aaron Finch has found himself in strife after he aggravated his knee injury during the final T20I against the West Indies in St Lucia. The veteran sustained the injury in a practice session prior to the series and now he faces knee surgery to gain the desired fitness levels.

The Victorian isn’t a part of the One Dayers against the Caribbean team and he won’t be travelling to Bangladesh as well for the five-match T20I series. Finch has returned home and while there’s a chance of surgery, his participation in the 2021 T20 World Cup has come also under the clouds.

Alex Carey is currently in charge of the ODI team in the West Indies. Finch, without a doubt, was disappointed but understood the importance of regaining fitness before the multi-nation tournament later this year in the United Arab Emirates.

Aaron Finch dejected

“I’m extremely disappointed to be heading home This was considered the best course of action rather than travelling to Bangladesh, not being able to play and losing that recovery time. I will have the surgery if required and start the recovery process ahead of the World Cup,” Finch was quoted as saying in ESPNcricinfo.

“Selectors and the Cricket Australia medical team are optimistic Finch will recover in time for the ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE and Oman, which commences in mid-October,” a statement from Cricket Australia mentioned.

While Carey is leading the ODI team in the Caribbean, the selectors are yet to decide on who should lead the T20I side in Bangladesh. When Finch didn’t play a T20I last year, it was Matthew Wade, who captained the Australian national team.

The team won’t be calling any replacement due to the hassles surrounding the bio-secure bubbles in the COVID-19 pandemic. They have Nathan Ellis and Tanveer Sangha as the two reserve players, but both of them are bowling options.

In the meantime, the most-awaited T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place from October 17 to November 14. The tournament was set to take place in India but had to be moved to the UAE due to the pandemic.