Mitchell Santner will lead the Blackcaps after taking over the captaincy from Kane Williamson, who is also part of the 15-man squad.
Fast bowlers Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears have been called up to New Zealand’s 15-man squad for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy scheduled to be held in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates in February and March.
Seamers Ben Sears, Nathan Smith and Will O’Rourke will play in their first World Series as the Blackcaps selected a line-up packed with pace on Sunday.
Left-arm pacer Mitchell Santner will lead the 15-man squad after being appointed white-ball captain last month, while Matt Henry will lead the attack after the retirement of powerhouse duo Trent Boult and Tim Southee.
Santner, Kane Williamson and Tom Blundell are the only survivors from the New Zealand squad from the last edition of the Champions Trophy in 2017.
The batting line-up is strong, with Devon Conway, Will Young, Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Darryl Mitchell and Williamson providing depth and experience.
Ready for Pakistan and the Emirates 🏏 #Champions Cup pic.twitter.com/Q4tbhqm0xi
— Black Caps (@BLACKCAPS) January 11, 2025
“We are currently blessed with a lot of quality players and this has certainly led to some difficult discussions about selection,” coach Gary Stead said.
“We have gone with the team that will give us the best options to perform well in the expected conditions in Pakistan and the UAE.”
Ferguson is no longer under contract with New Zealand Cricket and missed the series against Sri Lanka while playing in the Australian Big Bash League.
Sears returns from a knee injury that kept him out for most of last year, while O’Rourke and Smith impressed in the recent Test series against England and the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka that followed.
Jacob Duffy, who was outstanding in the T20 series and the one-day international series against Sri Lanka, has been named as a travel reserve.
The Lions will play friendly matches against Pakistan, South Africa and Afghanistan in Karachi and Lahore before the tournament begins on February 19.
New Zealand is preparing for the tournament with a three-way friendly match against Pakistan and South Africa in Karachi and Lahore, and a friendly match against Afghanistan in Karachi.
The Champions Trophy is contested between the top eight men’s ODI teams in world cricket.
New Zealand were the first winners of the tournament in 2000.
a team: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wicket-keeper), Darryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rashin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young.
https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/AFP__20250111__36TJ6KE__v1__HighRes__CricketNzlSri-1736661454.jpg?resize=1920%2C1440
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