Bracewell appointed captain of New Zealand for T20 series against Pakistan

Wellington, April 3 (Hindustan Reporter) New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Wednesday announced a 15-member national squad for the upcoming five-match T20 series against Pakistan. All-rounder Michael Bracewell has been made the captain of the team, who will lead New Zealand for the first time. At the same time, Tim Robinson and Will O'Rourke have been included in the team for the first time.

New Zealand will be without many of their leading players in the series against Pakistan who are unavailable either due to their stint in the IPL or due to other reasons. Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner and Kane Williamson are all part of different teams in the IPL. Will Young (winter contract with Nottinghamshire), Tom Latham (awaiting the birth of his second child) and Tim Southee (conditioning) and Colin Munro were also not available for selection.

Bracewell will make his first international appearance since March 2023. The 33-year-old all-rounder was playing active cricket during the Plunket Shield, where he produced a first-class career best of 8 for 41 in his first match on his return.

In an official statement released by New Zealand Cricket on Wednesday, selector Sam Wells said, “Michael has faced a long time on the sidelines and it is exciting to see him playing cricket again. The fact that he is playing at a high level after returning from injury is a testament to his hard work. He is a respected leader and has experience captaining Wellington as well as New Zealand A and New Zealand XI teams. He is suitable to lead the group in Pakistan.”

The New Zealand team will leave for Pakistan on 12 April. The first T20 match will be played on 18 April in Rawalpindi, which will also host the next two matches on 20 and 21 April. The last two matches of the series will be played in Lahore on 25 and 27 April.

New Zealand's T20 squad is as follows: Michael Bracewell (captain), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Will O'Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi.