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.jpg "This Star All-Rounder to Captain NZ in Home T20 Series Against Pakistan, Check details")
Santner, who has led the team in recent white-ball formats, will miss the series due to domestic T20 commitments. In his place, Bracewell takes on the captaincy role for the first time on home soil, although he previously captained the side during a white-ball tour of Pakistan last year.
“I’m really excited for the opportunity to captain the team at home,” Bracewell said. “It’s a great honour and privilege to lead your country, and I’m looking forward to the challenge of hosting a strong team like Pakistan.”
The squad features several players from New Zealand’s Champions Trophy campaign, including Bracewell, who was a standout performer in the team's journey to the final. Despite missing out on the Champions Trophy, Bracewell is keen to build on the success of his predecessors, with a focus on fostering an enjoyable and competitive atmosphere.
“Pakistan are always a dangerous short-form side with lots of power and pace. We know they’ll be hurting after an early exit in the Champions Trophy, but they’re a team that can bounce back quickly,” Bracewell added. “We’re looking forward to playing in front of our home crowd and the fantastic support we’ve received from New Zealand fans."
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Squad Updates and Key Returns
Ish Sodhi makes his return to the T20I squad after missing New Zealand’s recent home series against Sri Lanka, while Ben Sears comes back after recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the Champions Trophy.
Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke will feature in the first three matches of the series, with the team managing their workload after the recent ICC event. Matt Henry, who was New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker in the Champions Trophy despite missing the final due to injury, is named for the fourth and fifth matches, although his fitness will be subject to further testing before his involvement.
“We’re focused on balancing the workload of our players, particularly those coming off the Champions Trophy,” said Sam Wells, New Zealand’s selector. “The T20 World Cup next year in India and Sri Lanka is on the horizon, so we’re looking to build a team that can compete at the highest level.”
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Unavailable Players and Squad Composition
Several key players are unavailable for the series, including Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Phillips, Bevon Jacobs, and Rachin Ravindra, all of whom have domestic T20 commitments. Kane Williamson also declared himself unavailable for the series.
The absence of these players has led to the inclusion of new faces in the squad, with the likes of Tim Robinson and Zak Foulkes joining the group for the final two matches of the series.
New Zealand T20I Squad for the Pakistan Series:
- Michael Bracewell (c)
- Finn Allen
- Mark Chapman
- Jacob Duffy
- Zak Foulkes (matches 4-5)
- Mitch Hay
- Matt Henry (matches 4-5)
- Kyle Jamieson (matches 1-3)
- Daryl Mitchell
- Jimmy Neesham
- Will O’Rourke (matches 1-3)
- Tim Robinson
- Ben Sears
- Tim Seifert
- Ish Sodhi
New Zealand's Upcoming T20I Series Schedule Against Pakistan:
- 1st T20I: Sunday, 16 March – Hagley Oval, Christchurch
- 2nd T20I: Tuesday, 18 March – University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
- 3rd T20I: Friday, 21 March – Eden Park, Auckland
- 4th T20I: Sunday, 23 March – Bay Oval, Tauranga
- 5th T20I: Wednesday, 25 March – Sky Stadium, Wellington
As the series approaches, New Zealand is focusing not only on immediate success but also on laying the groundwork for next year’s T20 World Cup. With a squad balancing experience and fresh talent, the team will be hoping to build momentum and further strengthen their preparations for the global tournament.
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