In the IPL, nine cricketers are skipping to tour Pakistan without playing. New Zealand’s star cricketers are managing busy schedules in the IPL. Therefore, excluding most regular players, New Zealand is going to play the T20 series in Pakistan. Kane Williamson has been made captain after recovering from injury for many days.
New Zealand Cricket Board has announced a 15-member squad for this series. Among them, a completely new face is batter Tim Robinson. Besides, others have considerable experience playing fewer international matches. Robinson scored 298 runs with a strike rate of 187 and an average of 59.60 in the latest Super Smash League. His innings also includes a 139-run knock off 64 balls.
Bracewell returned from injury last March. Along with nine cricketers skipping the IPL, English county league’s Nottinghamshire’s Will Young is also excluded. Experienced Tom Latham received leave to be with his wife during the birth of their second child. Another experienced cricketer and former Test captain Tim Southee has been given rest.
Although this series is important before the T20 World Cup, New Zealand is sending a second-string squad to Pakistan. The series of five matches will start in Pakistan on April 18.
New Zealand Squad: Michael Bracewell (Captain), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Donnell, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, and Ish Sodhi.
