New Zealand have summoned Kyle Jamieson into their World Cup squad as a precaution, with fellow pace bowler Matt Henry awaiting the results of a hamstring scan.
Jamieson, who was previously with the squad in India as cover for Tim Southee, is set to join the team in Bengaluru ahead of their upcoming match against Pakistan.
New Zealand's coach, Gary Stead, explained that with Henry awaiting the results of his hamstring scan and Lockie Ferguson recovering from an Achilles injury, they couldn't afford to be short of bowlers for the match against Pakistan. New Zealand has two group games left, and a spot in the semi-finals is still within reach.
Stead expressed his concern regarding the severity of Matt Henry's injury and the tight turnaround to the Pakistan match, which prompted them to bring in additional cover. He praised Henry's track record in ODI cricket and hoped for positive results from the scan.
Kyle Jamieson, a towering 28-year-old fast bowler with 14 wickets in 13 ODIs, is expected to adapt quickly to Indian conditions. New Zealand anticipates his availability for the Saturday match.
Despite facing multiple injury setbacks, with star batsman Kane Williamson and all-rounder Mark Chapman sidelined, New Zealand is determined to make a strong showing in the tournament. They suffered a heavy defeat to South Africa, but with two matches left in the group stage against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, they are still well-positioned to secure a spot in the semi-finals.