Wellington, Jan 23 (IANS) Right-arm fast bowler Adam Milne has been ruled out of the ICC T20 World Cup with a torn left hamstring and will be replaced in the squad by Kyle Jamieson, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said on Friday.

Milne suffered the injury while bowling in the SA20 on Sunday, with subsequent scans revealing the extent of the injury.

“We’re all gutted for Adam. He’d worked so hard to get himself ready for the tournament and was looking back to his best in his eight games for the Eastern Cape Sunrisers. It’s unfortunate timing for Adam and we wish him a speedy recovery,” said head coach Rob Walter.

Jamieson, who is currently part of the white-ball tour of India, has been added to the T20 World Cup squad after originally being named as the travelling reserve for the mega event in India and Sri Lanka.

Walter said Jamieson was a worthy replacement.

“It’s great that Kyle is already with us here in India. He’s an integral member of our pace-bowling group and has hit the ground running on this tour.

“He’s a hard worker with a good set of skills and experiences that will hold him good stead for the tournament,” he said.

Milne has been a part of New Zealand’s squad at multiple T20 World Cups, including the 2012, 2016, 2021 and 2022 editions of the tournament.

He has played 11 matches at T20 World Cups and has taken six wickets for New Zealand.

The 33-year-old pacer has 65 wickets in 56 matches ever since his T20I debut for the Kiwis in 2010. Overall, Milne has 258 scalps from 226 T20 matches at an average of 23.23 and an economy of 7.89 in T20 cricket.

New Zealand have been placed in Group D alongside South Africa, Afghanistan, UAE and Canada in the T20 World Cup.

New Zealand will begin their campaign on February 8 with a clash against Afghanistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

–IANS

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