All-rounder Michael Bracewell is set to lead New Zealand for the first time at home when his side takes on Pakistan for the upcoming five-match T20I series. The 34-year-old’s Michael Bracewell‘s maiden stint as captain also came against Pakistan, away from home last year when the Black Caps fielded a largely fringe squad. It will be the case again as only seven players from the Champions Trophy squad will be part of this series.
Michael Bracewell will captain New Zealand for the first time on home soil when they meet Pakistan in a five-game T20 series, leading a squad named Tuesday missing several key players because of the IPL. Michael Bracewell starred as the Black Caps reached the final of the Champions Trophy and is one of seven players from that one-day team selected for the T20Is.
But a host of top names are not available due to Indian Premier League commitments, including regular skipper Mitchell Santner, along with Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson and Glenn Phillips. Kane Williamson also made himself unavailable for the series, which gets under way on Sunday in Christchurch.
Michael Bracewell to lead a team full of second string NZ players
Michael Bracewell has been named skipper as New Zealand announced their squad for their upcoming five-match T20I series against Pakistan. Michael Bracewell led the Black Caps on the tour of Pakistan last year when the series was drawn 2-2. Michael Bracewell will take charge in the absence of Mitchell Santner, who will be in India for IPL commitments along with Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra.
Regular captain Mitchell Santner alongside Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and Bevon Jacobs are unavailable due to their IPL commitments. However, the trio of Tim Seifert, Finn Allen and James Neesham are back in the mix after having missed the previous series due to their involvement in T20 leagues.
Meanwhile, veteran leggie Ish Sodhi has been recalled after being absent in the recent Sri Lanka series while pacer Ben Sears is also back after having suffered a hamstring injury that had ruled him out of the Champions Trophy. Pacers Kyle Jamieson and William O’Rourke have been picked but shall only feature in the first three game of the series, with the selectors keen to monitor the workload of the fast bowlers.
Michael Bracewell is confident of leading New Zealand vs Pakistan
Michael Bracewell has been named skipper as New Zealand announced their squad for their upcoming five-match T20I series against Pakistan. Michael Bracewell led the Black Caps on the tour of Pakistan last year when the series was drawn 2-2. Michael Bracewell will take charge in the absence of Mitchell Santner, who will be in India for IPL commitments along with Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra.
Michael Bracewell recently played a crucial role in the Champions Trophy where the Kiwis finished as the runners-up. He took a four-wicket haul against Bangladesh and also scored a half-century in the final against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
“It’s a great honour and a real privilege to captain your country. I really enjoyed leading the side in Pakistan last year, and we’ve got many players from that squad included for this series as well, which is nice,” Bracewell said in a NZC press release.
The selectors have kept in mind the workload of the pacers and hence, included Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke only for the first three games of the series. Matt Henry, who missed the final against India, will return for the fourth and fifth T20Is.
Ben Sears has recovered from a hamstring injury while leg-spinner Ish Sodhi made a comeback after missing the series against Sri Lanka. Kane Williamson made himself unavailable and hasn’t been considered for selection. Bevon Jacobs, a member of the squad for the recent T20 series against Sri Lanka, was unable to participate due to his IPL commitments. The T20I series between Pakistan and New Zealand starts on Sunday, March 16 with the series opener at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
New Zealand squad for Pakistan T20I series
Michael Bracewell , Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes (games 4 & 5), Mitch Hay, Matt Henry (games 4 & 5), Kyle Jamieson (games 1, 2 & 3), Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke (games 1, 2 & 3), Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi