The New Zealand cricket team announced their 15-player squad for the ninth edition of the T20 World Cup tournament on Monday. They opted for a lineup featuring veteran players such as Williamson, along with fast bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult.
Williamson will be playing in his sixth T20 World Cup and fourth time as the captain of the side. Veteran pacer Tim Southee is preparing for his seventh appearance and Boult his fifth. The New Zealand team is determined to secure their first title in the shortest format of cricket.
Unexpectedly, the experienced top-order batsman Colin Munro didn’t make a return. Instead, selectors chose to bring in the young talent Rachin Ravindra and fast bowler Matt Henry, both of whom haven’t played in a T20 World Cup before.
New Zealand will have young fast bowler Ben Sears as a reserve player for their tours to the USA and West Indies in case the team demands.
Gary Stead, the coach of New Zealand, is sure that the squad is balanced and anticipates a strong performance throughout the month-long tournament.
“I’d like to congratulate everyone named today. It’s a special time representing your country at a world tournament. We expect the venues in the West Indies to offer quite varied conditions and feel we’ve selected a squad with the scope to adapt to those conditions.”
New Zealand’s first game in the T20 World Cup will be against Afghanistan in Guyana on June 7th. They will play against co-hosts West Indies, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea in Group C matches.
New Zealand Squad:
Kane Williamson (C), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee. Travelling Reserve: Ben Sears
