Michael Bracewell will captain New Zealand for the first time on home soil when they face Pakistan in a five-match T20 series, leading a squad that was named on Tuesday without several key players due to the IPL.
Bracewell was an important player as the Black Caps made it into the final of the Champions Trophy and is one of seven players from that one-day team selected for the T20s.
But a number of stars are unavailable due to Indian Premier League commitments, namely usual captain Mitchell Santner, along with Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, and Glenn Phillips.
Kane Williamson also withdrew himself from the series, beginning this Sunday in Christchurch.
“It is a great honour and a real privilege to captain your country,” said Bracewell, who has led the side on their white-ball tour of Pakistan last year but has not yet captained the team at home.
“Mitch Santner has done a tremendous job since taking over as white-ball captain, and I will just be trying to build on what he has done and create an environment that will be enjoyable for the guys to perform in.”
Pakistan are always a dangerous side in the short version, full of power and pace and we know they will be hurting from an early exit in the Champions Trophy,” he said.
Spin bowler Ish Sodhi has been recalled and seamer Ben Sears returns from his recovery from a torn hamstring.
Finn Allen, Jimmy Neesham, and Tim Seifert were also included in both teams’ preparations for next year’s T20 World Cup in India.
