New Zealand has announced a fresh-look squad for their upcoming five-match T20I series against Pakistan, starting on March 16.
The series will be led by Michael Bracewell, who takes over the captaincy from Mitchell Santner, who is unavailable due to his commitments in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The New Zealand squad features a mix of established and returning players.
Seven members from New Zealand’s Champions Trophy squad have been included, while key players like Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra are missing due to their IPL engagements.
Kane Williamson has also opted out of selection, citing his commitments in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) starting in April.
NZ vs PAK T20I Series Schedule
The T20I series against Pakistan will be played across five venues in New Zealand:
- 1st T20I: March 16, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
- 2nd T20I: March 18, University Oval, Dunedin
- 3rd T20I: March 21, Eden Park, Auckland
- 4th T20I: March 23, Bay Oval, Tauranga
- 5th T20I: March 26, Sky Stadium, Wellington
New Zealand T20I squad v Pakistan
Michael Bracewell (c), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes (matches 4-5), Mitch Hay, Matt Henry (matches 4-5), Kyle Jamieson (matches 1-3), Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke (matches 1-3), Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi
Challenges Ahead
New Zealand will face a challenging series against Pakistan, who are known for their power and pace in the short format.
Pakistan recently appointed Salman Ali Agha as their T20I captain, with Shadab Khan as vice-captain, and are looking to build momentum ahead of major tournaments like the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The series provides an opportunity for New Zealand’s emerging players to showcase their skills and for the team to build towards future international competitions.
With several key players missing, the squad will rely on the experience of players like Michael Bracewell and Ish Sodhi to guide them through the series.
