New Zealand head coach Gary Stead on Saturday (February 20) revealed that the Black Caps are likely to travel to India for the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021 with a 20-member squad because of the challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Generally, teams traveled with 15 or 16 players, but now they prefer bigger squads ever since the international cricket resumed amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the Kiwis will also follow the trend for the upcoming showpiece event in India in October-November 2021.
As reported by stuff.co.nz, Stead stated: “The way COVID-19 is at the moment and the way the world is changing so quickly, I'd probably expect there could be up to 20 people in the squad.”
He added, “In some ways, that makes it easier getting the balance you want throughout and having your people who are next in line ready to go. I think it's realistic to expect that there could be guys selected to go to the World Cup later in the year, who may not have played for New Zealand (in T20s).”
Meanwhile, New Zealand is slated to play a five-match T20 International series against Australia, starting from Monday (February 22) and the coach expected a tough series at home.
Stead signed off by saying, “Australia is still a dangerous team. You could argue this is the form team of the Big Bash that's over here right now. Yes, they may not have some of those names that we expect to see, but when you look through their lineup, they're still class right the way through.”
