New Zealand Announces Squad For The T20I Series Against Pakistan; Appoints A New Captain

Cricket fans are in for an exciting contest as New Zealand has announced a strong 15-member squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Pakistan on home soil. The highly anticipated series will kick off on March 16, 2025, with the first match set to be played at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.

The T20I series will be followed by a three-match ODI series, setting the stage for some thrilling white-ball cricket. For Pakistan, this series marks their return to international cricket after a disappointing Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, where they failed to make a significant impact. On the other hand, New Zealand enters this bilateral contest with confidence, having finished as runners-up in the Champions Trophy, narrowly losing to India in the final by four wickets.

With both teams looking to rebuild momentum, this series promises to be a battle of skill, strategy, and resilience.

Michael Bracewell to Lead New Zealand in T20Is

In a major development, talented all-rounder Michael Bracewell has been named the captain of New Zealand for the five-match T20I series against Pakistan. This marks his first time leading the Black Caps on home soil, a challenge he is eager to embrace. Bracewell was one of the key players in New Zealand’s campaign in the Champions Trophy and is among the seven players from that squad who have made it to the T20 setup.

Bracewell is no stranger to leadership, having previously captained New Zealand’s white-ball squad during their Pakistan tour in April 2024. His experience in subcontinental conditions and his recent form make him a reliable leader for the home team.

Speaking to the official New Zealand Cricket website, Bracewell expressed his excitement:

“It’s a great honor and a real privilege to captain your country. I really enjoyed leading the side in Pakistan last year, and we’ve got many players from that squad included for this series as well, which is nice.”

With several key players missing due to IPL commitments, Bracewell’s leadership will be crucial in guiding a squad that blends experience with new talent.

Key Players Missing Due to IPL Commitments

The T20I squad will be without five prominent players who are currently engaged in the Indian Premier League (IPL):

Devon Conway (Chennai Super Kings)
Lockie Ferguson (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Glenn Phillips (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Rachin Ravindra (Chennai Super Kings)
Mitchell Santner (Chennai Super Kings and New Zealand’s white-ball captain)

With these T20 specialists unavailable, the selectors have opted for a balanced squad featuring a mix of senior players and rising talents.

Key Players Returning to the Squad

Several experienced players have returned to the New Zealand T20I setup, strengthening the team ahead of this crucial series:

1. Ish Sodhi

The veteran leg-spinner makes his return after missing the recent home series against Sri Lanka. His expertise in containing runs and taking wickets in the middle overs will be valuable against Pakistan’s aggressive batting lineup.

2. Ben Sears

The young fast bowler is back in action after recovering from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the Champions Trophy. Sears has the pace and accuracy to trouble Pakistan’s batters, especially in conditions favoring seam movement.

3. Finn Allen, Jimmy Neesham, and Tim Seifert

All three players have confirmed their availability after missing the Sri Lanka series due to overseas T20 league commitments. Their inclusion adds firepower to the batting and all-round capabilities of the squad.

4. Tim Robinson and Mitch Hay

Robinson will continue his role at the top of the batting order, while wicketkeeper-batter Mitch Hay, who impressed against Sri Lanka, retains his place in the squad.

Rotation Policy for Pace Bowlers

Given the recent workload of New Zealand’s fast bowlers during the Champions Trophy, the selectors have adopted a rotation policy to ensure their workload is managed effectively.

Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke will play the first three matches.
Matt Henry, who finished as the leading wicket-taker of the Champions Trophy, has been included for the last two games. His participation is subject to evaluation after the ODI squad returns from its international assignments.

This strategic rotation aims to keep the pace attack fresh and effective throughout the series.

Full New Zealand Squad for the T20I Series Against Pakistan

Player Name	Role	Special Notes
Michael Bracewell (c)	All-rounder	Captain of the squad
Finn Allen	Batter	Returning from overseas league
Mark Chapman	Batter	Experienced T20 player
Jacob Duffy	Bowler	Right-arm pacer
Zak Foulkes	Bowler	Available for games 4 & 5
Mitch Hay	Wicketkeeper	Impressed against Sri Lanka
Matt Henry	Bowler	Available for games 4 & 5
Kyle Jamieson	Bowler	Available for games 1, 2 & 3
Daryl Mitchell	All-rounder	Key middle-order player
Jimmy Neesham	All-rounder	Power-hitter & pace bowler
Will O’Rourke	Bowler	Available for games 1, 2 & 3
Tim Robinson	Batter	Top-order batter
Ben Sears	Bowler	Returning from injury
Tim Seifert	Wicketkeeper	Experienced T20 player
Ish Sodhi	Bowler	Leg-spinner returning to the squad

Series Schedule: New Zealand vs Pakistan T20Is

Match	Date	Venue
1st T20I	March 16	Hagley Oval, Christchurch
2nd T20I	March 18	University Oval, Dunedin
3rd T20I	March 21	Eden Park, Auckland
4th T20I	March 23	Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
5th T20I	March 26	Sky Stadium, Wellington

Expectations from the Series

This five-match T20I series will be a crucial test for both teams as they prepare for future international tournaments.

New Zealand’s Perspective:

The absence of key IPL-bound players provides an opportunity for young talents to step up.
Michael Bracewell’s leadership will be tested on home soil.
Pace rotation strategy will ensure fresh bowlers throughout the series.

Pakistan’s Perspective:

After a disappointing Champions Trophy, they will look to bounce back.
New T20I captain Salman Ali Agha will have the responsibility of leading a young squad.
The series will serve as preparation for upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

Final Thoughts

The New Zealand vs Pakistan T20I series promises to be an action-packed contest, with both teams eager to prove their mettle in the shortest format. With Michael Bracewell leading a dynamic Black Caps squad, and Pakistan looking for a fresh start post-Champions Trophy, fans can expect high-intensity cricket and exciting performances across all five games.

With the first T20I set for March 16, the countdown has begun!

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