Stuff Digital Edition

NZ hopes take a dive

Decision on replacement frustrates Black Caps

Andrew Voerman andrew.voerman@stuff.co.nz

Gary Stead can’t say for certain what would have happened if Adam Milne had been available for the Black Caps against Pakistan, but he has a hunch it might have helped, and will be seeking clarification as to why it wasn’t possible.

When scans confirmed a calf tear for Lockie Ferguson on the morning of their Twenty20 World Cup opener, the Black Caps tried to bring in Milne, their travelling reserve, but they didn’t get the approval from the International Cricket Council in time.

At different stages yesterday, they had three different playing XIs in mind, but were ultimately forced to go without either of their express seamers as they lost by five wickets at Sharjah.

The defeat leaves the Black Caps facing a must-win match against India on Monday (3am NZ time] where they will have Milne available, as the ICC approved him as a replacement for Ferguson shortly after Pakistan scored the winning runs.

Teams have been allowed to bring reserve players to the World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, as Covid-19 border restrictions have made flying them in at short notice impossible. Stead said it was disappointing they had not been able to make the change immediately.

‘‘You can’t say you know for sure it would have made a difference in the game, but for us, on that wicket, pace bowling and hitting the pitch as hard as what Adam does or what Lockie does, would have been a difference, we think, and I think Haris Rauf showed that for Pakistan, the difference that it can make.’’

Stead said the Black Caps would be seeking clarification from the ICC as to why the replacement couldn’t be made in time.

Stuff has also asked the governing body to comment.

Stead said leg-spinner Ish Sodhi was the beneficiary of that call, as the original plan had been to go with one frontline spinner.

The Black Caps made 134-8 after being sent in, a total Stead thought was about par, then had Pakistan 91-5 in the 15th over, needing 44 more runs off the final 31 balls.

That was when Asif Ali proved to be the difference between the two sides, blasting 27 off 12 balls, including two sixes off Southee and one off Boult – the only innings in the match where runs were scored at that kind of rate.

Veteran Shoaib Malik also finished unbeaten, on 26 off 20, as Pakistan got home with eight balls to spare, a result that leaves them in the box seat to advance to the semifinals as the top seed from group 2.

The winner of the match between the Black Caps and India will be the favourite to join them, with minnows Afghanistan, Namibia, and Scotland the other teams in the mix.

Sport

en-nz

2021-10-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/282312503281967

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