As if the blow of losing their opening encounter against Pakistan was not a big enough blow, New Zealand will now have to deal with another issue as Martin Guptill has picked up an injury and might be unavailable for their clash against India on Sunday.
Guptill, who is the most experienced player for New Zealand in this shortest format of the game, was injured by a ball bowled by Haris Rauf. He took a blow to his toe, in the ball preceding to the one he got out on for the score of 17 in the 6th over. Guptill was the first man to be dismissed for his side, and after that, some kind of passage was opened for Pakistan as they picked up wickets at regular intervals to ensure that the Kiwis didn’t run away with the game. At the end of their 20 overs, New Zealand could only accumulate 134 runs. Pakistan on the other hand chased the total down with relative ease, and ten balls to spare.
According to TOI, Gary Stead the coach of the New Zealand side talked with reporters and said, “He (Guptill) looked in a little bit of discomfort at the end of the game and it might take 24 to 48 hours to see how he goes.” The coach further added that he and the team management are already disappointed with the ICC who didn’t allow them to name Milne as the replacement for Ferguson, ahead of Pakistan’s game after the latter tore his calf on Tuesday. He also agreed that Pakistan is now the hot favorite for semis and the remaining teams of the group will be fighting for the second spot on the table.