WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Fast bowler Ben Sears from New Zealand has been sidelined from the Champions Trophy being held in Pakistan due to a tear in his hamstring.

Sears sustained the injury during a training session in Karachi on Wednesday. Medical scans revealed he is dealing with a minor tear that will likely keep him off the field for two weeks.

This injury adds to the recent struggles faced by the 27-year-old, who had just returned to action following a knee injury.

In light of Sears’ injury, Jacob Duffy, who was traveling as a reserve, will now take his spot in the New Zealand lineup.

New Zealand’s coach, Gary Stead, expressed his sympathy for Sears, stating, “We’re all really feeling for Ben. It’s always tough being ruled out of a major event at such a late stage and it’s particularly hard for Ben considering this would have marked his first significant ICC tournament.”

Stead acknowledged that given the timelines for Sears’ recovery, he would miss the bulk of the group stage. “Because of the condensed nature of the tournament, we felt it was best to bring in a player who is completely fit and ready to perform.”

New Zealand has been placed in a competitive group alongside Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan for the eight-team tournament, which kicks off Wednesday with a match between New Zealand and Pakistan.