New Zealand has officially announced its ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against Pakistan, introducing a mix of emerging players and experienced campaigners. The announcement comes amid a transitional phase for the Kiwis, offering several fringe players a platform to shine at the international level.
Among the fresh faces, 21-year-old Muhammad Abbas has earned his maiden ODI call-up. The son of former Pakistani batter Azhar Abbas Haraj, Abbas recently scored his first List A century and brings additional value as a left-arm seam bowler.
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While Michael Bracewell is leading the current T20I series, the ODI captaincy will be handed over to Tom Latham. In a strategic move to manage player workload, Kyle Jamieson will skip the ODI leg after featuring in the Champions Trophy and recent T20Is. Meanwhile, key pacer Matt Henry remains unavailable as he continues to recover from shoulder and knee injuries.
With several senior players missing, the pace attack will be led by Will O’Rourke, supported by Ben Sears, Jacob Duffy, and Nathan Smith. Auckland leg-spinner Adithya Ashok has also been recalled, last playing for New Zealand in December 2023. Ashok is being eyed as a potential successor to Ish Sodhi in white-ball formats.
New Zealand selection manager Sam Wells described the Pakistan series as a valuable opportunity:
“With the next ICC ODI pinnacle event still two and a half years away, this series is a perfect opportunity to introduce these players to international cricket,” he said.
New Zealand ODI Squad vs Pakistan:
- Tom Latham (c) (wk)
- Muhammad Abbas
- Michael Bracewell
- Mark Chapman
- Daryl Mitchell
- Will Young
- Nick Kelly
- Mitch Hay (wk)
- Adithya Ashok
- Will O’Rourke
- Ben Sears
- Jacob Duffy
- Nathan Smith
The series is expected to provide crucial game time and exposure for New Zealand’s next generation of talent as they build towards future ICC events.
