New Zealand T20I tri-series: Lockie Ferguson sidelined due to abdominal injury, likely to miss all matches

The New Zealand cricket team has hit another roadblock ahead of the impending T20 World Cup as express Kiwi pacer Lockie Ferguson is likely to miss the ongoing tri-series involving Bangladesh and Pakistan due to a minor abdominal injury. The Blackcaps are already without the services of Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner, with the latter joining the team on Sunday.

Lockie Ferguson's injury is a huge blow for the Kiwis, who are already sweating on the fitness of star pacer Adam Milne. New Zealand are light in its pace bowling department with only the veteran duo of Tim Southee and Trent Boult being their only renowned options.

Ferguson's injury is not serious according to head coach Gary Stead, but the team will be careful in handling him since he missed last year's T20 World Cup due to a calf strain. Stead revealed that the pacer might miss the entire tri-series in order to regain fitness ahead of the ICC mega event later this month.

"Lockie has a little ab injury at the moment. We're just managing just that and the most important thing is we get to the start of the World Cup and Lockie is ready to go. He's a very, very important cog in our bowling line-up. Unfortunately for him, he missed last year's World Cup with the injury he had then." 

"I mean we are mindful of it and we want to make sure that he's right and ready for those early games in the World Cup. There is that chance [of him missing the entire tri-series]. We will just see how he responds to treatment over the next few days," Stead said in an official statement.

Daryl Mitchell is hopeful for a return to action ahead of New Zealand's clash against Australia

Meanwhile, New Zealand's middle-order batting ace Daryl Mitchell hopes to be fit for the team's opening T20 World Cup fixture against Trans-Tasman rivals Australia after suffering a fracture on his finger during the practice session on Friday. 

"Obviously, not ideal timing but we've got some good news around where the fracture is in the hand and the time frame to be ready for the first game in Australia in a couple of weeks' time," Mitchell told Spark Sport on the sidelines of New Zealand's tri-series opener against Pakistan on Saturday.