New Zealand cricket has become the first team to announce its squad for the T20 World Cup 2021 which would be played in UAE and Oman starting from October 17. The team would be lead by Kane Williamson while no player has been named as his deputy. From the past experiences, it is suggested that fast bowler Tim Southee will work as Williamson’s deputy if need be.
Finn Allen, the young batting sensation who debuted for New Zealand earlier this year after a great showing in the Super Smash has been ignored for the T20 World Cup, although he along with Colin de Grnadhomme, another probable for the T20 World Cup have been named in the T20I and ODI squads that will tour Bangladesh and Pakistan ahead of the T20 World Cup.
New Zealand Cricket in a Press Release said, “Tom Latham will captain the side in Bangladesh and Pakistan, and the usual combination of skipper Kane Williamson and coach Gary Stead will resume duties for the T20 World Cup and the Test tour to India.”
NZC chief executive David White was also confident that the squads selected for various tours including the T20 World Cup are good enough to acquit themselves in all situations.
“As the BLACKCAPS proved in England earlier this year, we have good depth in the New Zealand game and I’m confident all the squads chosen will acquit themselves well,” White said.
White also confirmed that the players part of the Indian Premier League will be available for the tournament when it resumes in September this year. “We’ve always tried to be realistic about the IPL and this particular issue is very much a one-off, caused by a unique set of circumstances,” he said.
BLACKCAPS squad for ICC T20 World Cup and India T20s
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)
*Adam Milne has been selected as the 16th man 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.
Coaching Staff: Gary Stead, Shane Jurgensen, Luke Ronchi, (fourth coach TBA)