WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand has announced the inclusion of fast bowlers Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears in their 15-man squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy, which will take place next month in both Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Ferguson, who is not currently under contract with New Zealand Cricket, missed the recent home series against Sri Lanka as he participated in Australia’s Big Bash League.
Sears, on the other hand, served as a traveling reserve during the previous Twenty20 World Cup. His playing time was curtailed due to a knee injury that kept him out of New Zealand’s Test series in India last November and the initial part of the domestic season. Fortunately, he made a comeback on Thursday by playing in a T20 match for Wellington province.
Along with Sears, Will O’Rourke and Nathan Smith will also be making their debut at an ICC tournament. Conversely, Jacob Duffy, who has displayed impressive performances in the T20 and one-day international series against Sri Lanka, has been appointed as a traveling reserve.
“The ICC tournaments signify the height of our sport, and it is a tremendous privilege to represent your country at such events,” remarked coach Gary Stead.
“I especially want to recognize Ben, Nathan, and Will, who are set to experience their first senior ICC competitions, and I know they’re very eager for this opportunity.”
Heading the pace attack for New Zealand will be the experienced Matt Henry alongside Ferguson, who has previously participated in two T20 and two ODI World Cups.
The seasoned squad also benefits from the leadership of captain Mitchell Santner, wicketkeeper-batter Tom Latham, and former captain Kane Williamson, the latter of whom competed in the last Champions Trophy in 2017, as well as the 2013 edition.
This will mark Santner’s first major tournament as captain, and he provides a spin bowling option complemented by Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra.
The batting order is robust, featuring players such as Devon Conway, Will Young, Ravindra, Mark Chapman, and Daryl Mitchell, all contributing to a high level of experience and depth.
“Although it has been some time since the Champions Trophy was last held, our team understands the tournament’s rich history, including the fact that New Zealand was the inaugural winner in 2000 when it was called the ICC KnockOut Trophy,” noted Stead.
“We are currently fortunate to possess an abundance of quality players, which made the selection process quite challenging. Ultimately, we’ve chosen a squad that we believe will provide us with the best chances to perform well under the expected conditions in Pakistan and the UAE.”
To gear up for the tournament, New Zealand will participate in a warmup tri-series against Pakistan and South Africa in Karachi and Lahore, along with a friendly match against Afghanistan in Karachi.
The Champions Trophy features the top-eight ranked men’s ODI teams in international cricket.
