New Zealand Cricket has announced its schedule for the upcoming summer, which marks several international commitments, with the main focus set on the shortest format of the game.
Such a schedule might have been made with an eye on the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Now, before they advance to Zimbabwe for a tri-series in the shortest format of the game, between New Zealand, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, they have called in some of their players as backups for the tour.
Devon Conway makes a comeback to the Blackcaps side as a full-time replacement for injured Finn Allen. While the likes of Mitchell Hay, Jimmy Neesham, and Tim Robinson have been kept as additional covers for players in the squad who are currently busy with the Major League Cricket final.
New Zealand players are busy with MLC amid international commitments
Several players from the island nation were part of the ongoing edition of the Major League Cricket. Citing New Zealand cricket’s dominance in recent years in ICC events, their players have been easily picked for franchise cricket around the world.
As of now, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra have been named in the squad that will feature in the tri-series for New Zealand, which is scheduled to begin on the 16th of July at Harare.
Bracewell, who was part of MI New York’s playing 11 throughout the tournament, is preparing for the final as his team will take on the defending champions from last season, Washington Freedom.
This season of the Major League Cricket will not include a new winner, as the champions of the first season, MI New York, square off with Washington Freedom, the champions of the second season, in the final trophy match of the third season.
Chapman, Phillips, and Ravindra are all part of the Washington Freedom, which is being led by Glenn Maxwell.
New Zealand eyes a busy international schedule before the ICC T20 World Cup 2026
With eyes on the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka in 2026, every national side is looking forward to shifting their focus from other formats and putting it on the white ball’s shortest format.
New Zealand has been a very good performer in the recent ICC tournaments, having made it to the semi-finals as well as the finals on several occasions. However, such was not the fate for them in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies.
This time around, they would look to change the scenario, especially with the subcontinent conditions, since they love playing it here in India.
NZ’s busy international schedule consists of 11 T20I matches, which will be played against major teams like Australia, England, and the West Indies, all three giants of the shorter format.
Will Williamson return for the World Cup despite the contract snub?
New Zealand’s most veteran batsman, Kane Williamson, has recently made the headlines after he denied an offer for the central contract for the second time in the last two years.
However, head coach Rob Walter has shown full confidence in Kane Williamson’s willingness to star in international matches for the Black Caps. However, Williamson, despite denying contracts before, has played in every ICC tournament for New Zealand.
Citing his greatness in the T20 format as well and his current status of playing in several T20 franchise-level tournaments across the globe, Williamson’s presence in the squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 would be on the cards for the Kiwis.
However, since Williamson now has the discretion to choose for his availability, it would entirely be his decision whether to feature or not in the tournament.