New Zealand recall Williamson, Conway and Ferguson for Champions Trophy
The experienced trio missed the recent home ODI series against Sri Lanka due to commitments in overseas T20 leagues.
New Zealand have announced a strong squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, recalling Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, and Lockie Ferguson.
The experienced trio missed the recent home ODI series against Sri Lanka due to commitments in overseas T20 leagues.
Williamson and Conway were participating in South Africa's T20 league, while Ferguson featured in Australia's Big Bash League.
Ben Sears, who missed the 2-1 series victory over Sri Lanka due to a knee injury, has also been included in the squad. The tournament, co-hosted by Pakistan and the UAE, will see Sears, along with pace bowlers Will O'Rourke and Nathan Smith, making their debuts in a senior ICC event.
Mitchell Santner will captain New Zealand at a major ICC event for the first time, having been appointed full-time white-ball captain in December. Former skipper Williamson and wicketkeeper Tom Latham are among the players with experience in the Champions Trophy, having been part of the squad in the 2017 edition held in England and Wales.
Coach Gary Stead highlighted the depth and experience of the team, stating:
"We're currently blessed with a lot of quality players, and that certainly made for some challenging selection discussions."
New Zealand will begin their campaign on 19 February against hosts Pakistan in Karachi, followed by group stage matches against Bangladesh and India.
New Zealand squad:
Mitchell Santner (captain), Will Young, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Ben Sears, Will O'Rourke.