NZ coach Gary Stead disappointed with technical committee for not allowing Adam Milne to play against Pakistan

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead has questioned cricket's governing body's stance over not allowing fast bowler Adam Milne permission to play in New Zealand's game against Pakistan in the 20-20 World Cup. New Zealand were keen to play him in place of Lockie Ferguson, who has been ruled out of the global event due to a calf injury.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) had put in a request to the body's technical committee to allow Milne to join the team as a replacement for Ferguson who was confirmed to have a Grade 2 calf tear.

However, the technical committee didn’t allow Milne to play saying that replacement requests are not accepted on the same day. Stead was disappointed with the turn of events.

“We tried pretty hard to get across the line with the ICC our replacement player, but it wasn’t to be. That was really disappointing for us because Adam Milne is someone waiting in the wings as a like-for-like replacement,” Stead said to nzherald.co.nz

The New Zealand head coach further opined that Milne could have made the difference for them due to his ability to bowl fast and hit the hard lengths. Pakistan pacer Harris Rauf took four wickets and Stead felt Milne could have made the same impact.

“You can’t say you know for sure if it would have made a difference in the game, but for us, on that wicket, pace bowling and hitting the pitch as hard as what Adam does or Lockie does would have been a difference, we think. I think Haris Rauf showed Pakistan the difference that it can make.

“What we were told is they don’t give clearance on the same day, so we’ll question that reason and continue to seek clarification on that."