Pacers Kyle Jamieson and Lockie Ferguson on Monday were named in New Zealand’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, slated to be played in October-November in the UAE.
Player and staff welfare will take on extra significance this winter as New Zealand Cricket attempts to balance the BlackCaps workloads over a four-month-long period, incorporating tours to Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India, as well as the ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE.
While the Test squad to tour India will not be announced for another month or so, the BlackCaps white-ball squads will comprise a total of 32 players – including two new to the set-up in Canterbury all-rounder Cole McConchie, and Wellington paceman Ben Sears.
Additionally, a new crew of coaching staff, headed by Wellington coach Glenn Pocknall, will lead the tours to Bangladesh and Pakistan alongside experienced manager Mike Sandle – with regular bowling coach Shane Jurgenson joining as head coach for the Pakistan T20 series.
The first BlackCaps squad will depart for Bangladesh on the 23rd of this month and the players from the Test tour to India will return home and emerge from MIQ just before Christmas.
NZC chief executive David White said changing times demanded changing strategies, with player welfare and support now one of the professional sport’s biggest challenges, particularly in the current pandemic environment.
“The need to safeguard the well-being of our players and support staff is now very real, and we’ve endeavoured to do this by carefully managing their workloads over this winter’s massive playing programme,” said White in an official release.
Adam Milne has been selected as the 16th man in the T20 World Cup squad and will join the team for the tournament but can only be called upon to replace a player in the squad in the event of an injury.
New Zealand T20 World Cup squad: Kane Williamson (c), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Adam Milne (injury cover).
Coaching Staff: Gary Stead, Shane Jurgensen, Luke Ronchi, (fourth coach TBA)
