The 34-year-old New Zealand National Cricket Team right-arm pacer Tim Southee, has received the green light to join the squad in India for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. This news comes as a massive boost for Kane Williamson & Co., and New Zealand cricket fans couldn’t be more thrilled.
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is all set to unfold in India from October 5 to November 19. Ten formidable teams, including India, South Africa, Pakistan, Afghanistan, England, Australia, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, have secured their spots based on the Cricket World Cup Super League standings. Sri Lanka and the Netherlands have also earned their places following a remarkable performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
New Zealand, who were the finalists in the World Cup 2019, will kickstart their campaign on Thursday, October 5, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where they will face off against the defending champions, England.
But before the main event, the BlackCaps have two crucial warm-up matches lined up. On September 29, they will lock horns with Pakistan in Hyderabad, and on October 2, they will face South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram. These matches will serve as an excellent opportunity for the team to fine-tune their strategies and adapt to the Indian conditions.
The New Zealand crew confronted a big setback while their top-rated pacer, Tim Southee, suffered a thumb harm while fielding at some stage in the fourth ODI against England at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on September 15. The injury was a massive blow to the Kiwis, and Southee had no choice but to choose surgery to cope with the dislocated and fractured thumb.
However, the clouds of uncertainty began to clear on Tuesday, September 26, while New Zealand Cricket (NZC) took to Twitter to provide a major update on Tim Southee’s situation. According to the announcement released through NZC, Tim Southee has been given the permit to fly to India and join the New Zealand squad for the upcoming World Cup.
“Tim Southee’s been cleared to join the BLACKCAPS in India later this week as he continues to progress his recovery from surgery on his fractured right thumb. As a contingency, pace bowler Kyle Jamieson will also join the World Cup squad in India this week to train. #CWC23,” New Zealand Cricket said in an official statement released on X.
News | Tim Southee’s been cleared to join the BLACKCAPS in India later this week as he continues to progress his recovery from surgery on his fractured right thumb. As a contingency, pace-bowler Kyle Jamieson will also join the World Cup squad in India this week to train. #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/IWYA0nQjX8
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) September 26, 2023
New Zealand Squad For ICC World Cup 2023: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young.
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New Zealand scheduled for ICC World Cup 2023:
Thursday, October 5: England v New Zealand (Ahmedabad), 2 pm
Monday, October 9: New Zealand v Netherlands (Hyderabad), 2 pm
Friday, October 13: New Zealand v Bangladesh (Chennai), 2 pm
Wednesday, October 18: New Zealand v Afghanistan (Chennai), 2 pm
Sunday, October 22: India v New Zealand (Dharamsala), 2 pm
Saturday, October 28: Australia v New Zealand (Dharamsala), 10:30 am
Wednesday, November 1: New Zealand v South Africa (Pune), 2 pm
Saturday, November 4: New Zealand v Pakistan (Bengaluru), 10:30 am
Thursday, November 9: New Zealand v Sri Lanka (Bengaluru), 2 pm
