Champions Trophy 2025: Jacob Duffy to replace Ben Sears in New Zealand squad

The New Zealand team has been playing some great cricket recently in the ongoing Tri-Series where they have won the first two games in Lahore to qualify for the final which will be played at the National Stadium in Karachi. The Mitchell Santner-led side has played some incredible cricket in the lead-up to the final. 

There will be some big players missing from the squad for New Zealand, especially in the bowling department with the retirement of legendary Kiwi pacers Trent Boult and Tim Southee. The injuries to Rachin Ravindra and Lockie Ferguson have raised doubts about their participation as well. However, it turns out that there will be a replacement within the New Zealand squad ahead of the Champions Trophy with Ben Sears failing to recover from his hamstring injury. The replacement for the right arm pacer has also been decided. 

The player who will be replacing Sears in the squad is 30-year-old pacer Jacob Duffy who was named as a reserve in the squad for the Tri-Series. This will be a great opportunity for Duffy who has decent numbers in white ball cricket, especially in ODI’s where he has taken 18 wickets from the 10 matches he has played. Duffy was initially not included in the Champions Trophy but due to the injury to Sears, The Event Technical Committee of the Champions Trophy 2025 has approved Duffy of being the replacement for the 27-year-old Wellington-born pacer. 

Also Read: Rachin Ravindra ruled out of tri-series final versus Pakistan with head injury

Speaking of Duffy’s last few games he was recently seen playing for Otago in the Super Smash in New Zealand where he has taken five wickets in the five matches he played at an average of 30.80 and an economy of 7.83. Otago finished fifth in the points table and missed out on the playoffs losing five, winning four and one game being a no result.