Out of the blue, New Zealand has sprung a surprise by appointing the experienced all-rounder, Micheal Bracewell, as their captain for a five-match T20I series against Pakistan this month.
Pakistan will host New Zealand for the Twenty20 international series, set to commence in Rawalpindi on April 18. Both teams are gearing up for the T20 World Cup slated for June in the United States and the West Indies.
Bracewell has been out of action for over a year due to a ruptured Achilles and broken finger. Now he was named captain on Wednesday. This decision comes in the absence of the regular skipper, Kane Williamson. He is currently engaged with the Gujarat Titans in the IPL.
Reason Behind Michael Bracewell’s Selection
The reason behind selecting Micheal Bracewell as the captain for New Zealand lies in his recent stellar performances. Bracewell made a great comeback after being sidelined for over a year due to injuries.
Last month, he took eight wickets for his club Wellington. Plus, he also scored a hole-in-one while playing golf. “It’s three days that I’ll never forget,” Bracewell said.
“I’m very excited, it’s a huge honour just to be picked again for New Zealand and then on top of that selected as captain. I wasn’t expecting that.”Bracewell stated.
IPL contracted players Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner and Williamson are all missing.
New Zealand Test captain Tim Southee is being rested after a busy summer of cricket across all formats while Will Young, Tom Latham, and Colin Munro are also unavailable. Big-hitting batsman Tim Robinson and fast bowler Will O’Rourke received their first T20 squad call-ups.
“We have picked a squad with a lot of power and exciting bowling options,” said New Zealand selector Sam Wells.
It’s worth noting that New Zealand had previously clinched a 4-1 victory in a home five-match Twenty20 series against Pakistan in January.
Also Read: England’s Star All-Rounder Ben Stokes Opts Out of T20 World Cup 2024
New Zealand Squad
The New Zealand squad for the upcoming series includes Michael Bracewell (c), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (wk), and Ish Sodhi.
About Author
Zartash Zulfiqar is a passionate cricket writer with a love for cricket that shines through in every word. From match analyses to player profiles, she delivers insightful commentary that resonates with fans worldwide. Stay tuned for the latest from the world of cricket, brought to you by Zartash.
For More Great Content
Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.