Injury-plagued New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram has been ruled out of next month’s Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa as he is undergoing knee surgery next week.
Oram will not be available for New Zealand Twenty20 champion side Central Districts for the Champions League Twenty20, which starts on September 10 in Johannesburg.
Central Districts had already been hit hard after they lost Ross Taylor to Royal Challengers Bangalore though they got USD 2, 00,000 in exchange.
Oram returned home from Sri Lanka on Wednesday after aggravating his knee injury, which he first suffered during the ODI series against Australia in March, during New Zealand’s training ahead of tri-series match against India.
Oram, whose condition would be assessed by New Zealand medical staff for four to six weeks, is hoping to return for the home series against Pakistan in December.
“While I’m gutted to miss the Champions League with the Stags I’m thankful the medical specialist has found the problem now so we can get the right plans in place to get it right,” Oram said in a statement.
“I’ve been told that I should be realistically targeting the Pakistan homes series at the end of the year, but who knows, if surgery and rehab goes well I may be available for selection before the Indian tour in November.
“It’s frustrating more than anything but I’ve been through this before. I’m confident I can return injury-free following a course of rehabilitation,” Oram said.
