T20 World Cup 2024: New Zealand announce 15-member squad

New Zealand Squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 (Pic: X/@BLACKCAPS)

New Zealand on Monday announced their 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. The Kiwis have decided to go with the experience for the T20 World Cup 2024 with Kane Williamson leading the pack and pace attack having the likes of Tim Southee and Trent Boult.

For Williamson, this will be his sixth appearance in the shortest format's global showpiece. Also, it will be his fourth appearance as the captain of NZ in the T20 World Cup. Followed by, Tim Southee's seventh and Trent Boult's fifth appearance as they seek their first T20 World Cup title.

Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, pacer Kylie Jamieson and all-rounder Adam Milne have been ruled out due to injuries. Will O'Rourke, Tom Latham, Tim Seifert and Will Young have missed out on selection despite some recent good form against the white-ball. The T20 World Cup 2024 is set to begin in June.

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There was also no shock return for experienced top-order batter Colin Munro, with selectors instead opting to include young gun Rachin Ravindra - alongside fast bowler Matt Henry - as one of two players yet to previously appear at a T20 World Cup.

The Kiwis will also take young pacer Ben Sears to the USA and West Indies as a travelling reserve if required.

New Zealand coach Gary Stead believes he has selected a well-balanced squad and is confident of a strong showing in the month-long tournament.

"I'd like to congratulate everyone named today. It's a special time representing your country at a world tournament. We expect the venues in the West Indies to offer quite varied conditions and feel we've selected a squad with the scope to adapt to those conditions," Stead said as quoted by the ICC's official website.

Stead is especially looking forward to seeing how Henry and Ravindra can perform on the big stage, in what will be their first appearance at a T20 World Cup.

"Matt has worked exceptionally hard on his skills across the phases of a T20 game to come back into selection consideration. Rachin has made every post a winner in the past 12 months and it was exciting to see him continue that trajectory over the summer in the T20 format against Australia," Stead added.

New Zealand's first match at the T20 World Cup comes against Afghanistan in Guyana on June 7, with further Group C contests to follow with co-hosts West Indies, Uganda and Papua New Guinea.

New Zealand Squad: Kane Williamson (C), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee. Travelling Reserve: Ben Sears.

(With ANI Inputs)