Source: MakeLemonade.nz
Tāmaki Makaurau – New Zealand is starting a new chapter in its T20 international cricket journey.
Tom Latham will lead the Black Caps T20 squad against Henry Shipley set to make their debuts.
Latham will return to international T20 action for the first time in two years to lead the New Zealand against Sri Lanka (home) and Pakistan (away).
Regulars New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, Devon Conway and Mitchell Santner do not feature as they are comping in the Indian premier league.
The squad feature potential T20 debutants in Canterbury Kings duo Chad Bowes and Henry Shipley, along with several players returning to international T20 cricket on the back of strong international and domestic form.
The squads for Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be split, with 13 players named for the three-game T20 series against Sri Lanka which starts at Eden Park on April 2, before a 15-strong squad departs to Pakistan on April 9.
Cole McConchie, Rachin Ravindra and Tim Seifert have all been selected in a T20 squad for the first time since 2021.
Seifert features in the squad for the home series against Sri Lanka but won’t travel to Pakistan as he and his wife await the birth of their first child.
Dane Cleaver, McConchie and Blair Tickner are the new players to be added to the group when the squad moves to Pakistan.
While Shipley was included in the Black Caps T20 squad on this year’s tour to India, Bowes has been selected for the first time in the format fresh off his ODI debut at Eden Park on Saturday.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead says Latham’s return to T20 cricket reflected his ability to adapt his game and his leadership.
“We saw against India earlier this season the power and range of shots that Tom possess. His adaptability also means he can feature in a range of batting positions.
“He led an inexperienced T20 squad to Bangladesh in 2021 and we were really impressed with his leadership of that group during a COVID bubble tour.”
Stead said the two series presented opportunities for a number of players.
“Players like Seifert Tim and McConchie haven’t been around the squad for little while and I am sure they will bring good energy when they are involved. They have both earned their selection with strong domestic form this season.”
The squad to play Sri Lanka and Pakistan are:
Tom Latham (captain)
Chad Bowes*
Mark Chapman
Dane Cleaver
Matt Henry
Ben Lister
Adam Milne
Cole McConchie
Daryl Mitchell
Jimmy Neesham
Rachin Ravindra
Tim Seifert
Henry Shipley*
Ish Sodhi
Blair Tickner
Will Young
*uncapped in T20I
Head coach Gary Stead will take a break during the T20 series in Pakistan before rejoining for the five-game ODI series which begins in Rawalpindi on April 26.
Shane Jurgensen will lead the coaching staff for the three-game T20 series against Pakistan.
The T20 squad to face Sri Lanka will assemble in Auckland on Saturday April 1 ahead of the first match of the T20 Series at Eden Park the following day.
