Jacob Duffy Replaces Ben Sears in Champions Trophy 2025
Duffy's inclusion in the team and the announcement of the prize money have added to the excitement and anticipation surrounding the Champions Trophy, with teams gearing up to compete for the top prize and make the most of this opportunity.
New Zealand pace bowler Ben Sears has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to a left hamstring injury, and Jacob Duffy has been named as his replacement, marking Duffy's senior ICC event debut.
Sears suffered the injury during the team's first training session in Karachi and underwent a scan that revealed a minor tear, requiring at least two weeks' rehabilitation. This would have limited his availability to only the final group match against India on March 2, prompting the decision to replace him for the entire tournament. Sears had played in both of New Zealand's league-stage games in the tri-series but was wicketless after 16 overs.
Jacob Duffy, who is part of the New Zealand team for the ongoing tri-series in Pakistan, will make his senior ICC event debut in the Champions Trophy. Duffy has played 10 ODIs and has 18 wickets to his name, making him a suitable replacement for Sears. The ICC has also announced the prize money for the 2025 ICC Men's Champions Trophy, with a total prize pool of $6.9 million, a 53% increase from the 2017 edition.
The winner of the tournament will receive $2.24 million, while the runner-up will get $1.12 million and losing semi-finalists $560,000 each. Participating teams will also receive a guaranteed $125,000 each, making the tournament a highly competitive and lucrative event for the teams involved.