ISLAMABAD: New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Tuesday announced its decision to appoint wicket-keeper batter Tom Latham as the captain of the 15-man ODI squad that is scheduled to tour Pakistan later this month for a five-match series.
The Black Caps are scheduled to play a five-match T20I and ODI series against Babar Azam’ side in Pakistan, with the T20 series scheduled to kick off from April 14 while the ODI series will commence from April 26. The matches are expected to be played in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi venues.
New Zealand had a successful outing in Pakistan earlier this year, with the Black Caps clinching a three-match ODI series against Pakistan 2-1 in January. At the time, middle-order batter Kane Williamson was leading the Kiwi squad.
“Tom Latham will lead a BLACKCAPS ODI Squad in Pakistan later this month featuring two potential debutants in Ben Lister and Cole McConchie,” NZC said in a statement on Tuesday. “The 15-man squad also features further opportunities for recent ODI debutants Chad Bowes, Rachin Ravindra and Henry Shipley.”
The New Zealand squad features nine members who played earlier this year in the Karachi Tests and ODIs against Pakistan, NZC confirmed. It added that six members of the 15-man team were part of the squad that made it to the final of the 50-over World Cup in 2019.
Former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who was the green shirts’ head coach till February this year before his contract expired, has been roped in by NZC as assistant coach for the series.
“Having someone with Saqlain’s experience is a big boost for the group and we are looking forward to the insights he can offer us to aid our preparations for local conditions, and in particular the assistance he can provide to our spin bowling group,” New Zealand Coach Gary Stead said.
Stead said Pakistan were a tough team “no matter where you take them on.”
“The successful ODI Series earlier this year in Pakistan provided big learning opportunities for the players and having more ODI match experience is fantastic in a World Cup year,” he added.
New Zealand ODI squad:
Tom Latham (c)
Tom Blundell
Chad Bowes
Matt Henry
Ben Lister*
Cole McConchie*
Adam Milne
Daryl Mitchell
Jimmy Neesham
Henry Nicholls
Rachin Ravindra
Henry Shipley
Ish Sodhi
Blair Tickner
Will Young
Pakistan v New Zealand schedule:
14 Apr — 1st T20I, Lahore
15 Apr – 2nd T20I, Lahore
17 Apr – 3rd T20I, Lahore
20 Apr – 4th T20I, Rawalpindi
24 Apr – 5th T20I, Rawalpindi
26 Apr – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi
30 Apr – 2nd ODI, Karachi
3 May – 3rd ODI, Karachi
5 May – 4th ODI, Karachi
7 May – 5th ODI, Karachi
