New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell will not feature in the ODI World Cup scheduled to take place in October-November in India after rupturing his right achilles tendon.
The New Zealand cricket board said that the 32-year-old will undergo surgery in Britain on Thursday and will need six to eight months to recover. The spin bowling all-rounder suffered the injury playing for Worcestershire Rapids in the English T20 Blast.
“Firstly, you always feel for the player when injury strikes and especially when it means they will have to miss a world event,” New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said in a statement.
“Michael’s naturally pretty disappointed, but also pragmatic in acknowledging that injuries are a part of sport and he’s now turning his focus to his rehabilitation.”
New Zealand were runners-up to hosts England at the last 50-over World Cup in 2019.
Bracewell, who has been away from New Zealand since April after being called up to the IPL, won’t be able to fly home for a couple of weeks following surgery.
