New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has left the T20 World Cup to return home for the birth of his first child, ruling him out of the Black Caps’ final group fixture against Canada. Coach Rob Walter said the team supports Ferguson’s decision and hopes he can rejoin the squad before the Super 8 stage; Kyle Jamieson is a likely temporary replacement.
Read More: T20 World Cup roundup: USA win; Indo-Pak row Spark Criticism
Meanwhile, the tournament produced contrasting results elsewhere: Pakistan suffered a 61-run Group A loss to India with a dramatic top-order collapse, and the USA beat Namibia by 31 runs in Chennai as Monank Patel and Sanjay Krishnamurthi propelled the Americans to a high total.
Key details
New Zealand
- Player: Lockie Ferguson.
- Reason for leaving: granted leave to be present for the birth of his first child.
- Immediate impact: will miss New Zealand’s final group match against Canada (T20 World Cup 2026).
- Team response: coach Rob Walter emphasised the importance of the family moment and voiced hope Ferguson returns ahead of the Super 8s.
- Potential cover: Kyle Jamieson has been named as a contender to fill Ferguson’s spot for the Canada match.
Pakistan vs India (Group A, Colombo — February 15, 2026)
- Result: India beat Pakistan by 61 runs.
- Batting collapse: seven Pakistani batters combined for just 19 runs.
- Individual scores (Pakistan): Saim Ayub 6, Babar Azam 5, captain Salman Agha 4, Mohammad Nawaz 4, Usman Tariq 0, Abrar Ahmed 0, Sahibzada Farhan 0.
- Public reaction: Former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry posted on X on February 15, 2026, urging Faisal Vawda to include eleven cricketers (and the cricket board’s ‘spoons and ladles’) alongside five hundred politicians — tagging @FaisalVawdaPAK.
USA vs Namibia (Chennai — February 15, 2026)
- Match: 26th match of the ICC World Cup.
- Result: USA beat Namibia by 31 runs.
- USA innings: 199 for 4 in 20 overs.
- Key USA contributions: Monank Patel 52; Sanjay Krishnamurthi 68 not out; Milind Kumar 28; Shayan Jahangir 22; Sai Teja Mokalama 17; Shubham Ranjane 5 not out.
- Namibia chase: 168 for 6 in 20 overs; Louren Steenkamp 58.
- Namibia bowling: Willem Meiberg and Gerhard Erasmus took two wickets apiece.
The T20 World Cup has already produced off-field stories as well as on-field drama. New Zealand’s squad faces a quick reshuffle ahead of the business end of the group phase after Ferguson’s sudden departure, while Pakistan’s heavy loss to archrival India raises questions about its middle order and temperament under pressure. The USA’s batting depth, highlighted by an unbeaten 68 from Sanjay Krishnamurthi, underlines the growing competitiveness of associate and emerging teams in this format.
