New Zealand on Tuesday (March 23) announced their 13-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, starting on 28 March at Seddon Park in Hamilton.
With many first-choice stars will not available for the Black Caps due to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 commitments, New Zealand has called up two young players for the upcoming home T20I series.
To compensate for the absence of six IPL-bound players, New Zealand handed maiden call-ups to the uncapped batsman Finn Allen and Will Young for the Bangladesh T20Is following their impressive performance in last season's Super Smash - New Zealand's domestic T20 competition.
The six players are Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Jimmy Neesham, and Tim Seifert – who have been given a break before joining their respective teams in the IPL 14.
Notably, Allen, who has signed up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for the IPL 2021, will miss the first few games of the IPL 14 for RCB having earned a maiden call-up to the New Zealand side while Young, who already made his ODI and Test debut this season, will make his T20I debut against Bangladesh.
In Williamson's absence, Tim Southee will captain the Black Caps against Bangladesh in the upcoming T20I series, which will see the return of the speedsters Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne.
New Zealand selector Gavin Larsen said in a statement: “It's certainly been a season like no other and once again we've had to be pragmatic in our approach. The six guys who will miss this series are incumbents in our T20 side and the decision to give them some time at home with family before they embark on a long stint in India was principally made with their welfare in mind.”
The selector has further admitted that this will be a great opportunity for New Zealand to test their bench strength ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 to be held in October-November in India.
He signed off, “We're also very aware of the need to give others opportunities in a World Cup year and it’s great to be able to introduce Finn and Will to the set-up, as well as welcome back Lockie and Adam.”
New Zealand T20 squad:
Tim Southee (captain), Finn Allen, Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (wicketkeeper), Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Will Young.
(With Reuters Inputs)
