WELLINGTON, (Reuters) – New Zealand called uncapped Finn Allen and selected Will Young for the Twenty20 three-match series against Bangladesh yesterday in their bid to compensate for the absence of six players bound for the Indian Premier League (IPL) next month.
Regular captain Kane Williamson, who missed the ongoing ODI series against Bangladesh with a wrist injury, and five other players have been left with a Twenty20 series and rested at home before leaving for India.
In Williamson’s absence, Tim Southee will lead the Twenty20 squad, which includes 21-year-old Allen.
Young, who made his ODI debut and appearance this season, had his first call for Twenty20 to join the 13-member squad that includes fast-trackers Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne.
“It’s certainly been a season like no other and once again we had to be pragmatic in our approach,” selector Gavin Larsen said in a statement, explaining how complex it was to make the squad for the series starting Sunday.
“The six men who will lose this series are incumbents in our T20 side and the decision was made to spend some time at home with family before embarking on a long stay in India, primarily considering their welfare.”
Larsen admitted that he allowed New Zealand to test the strength of their bench ahead of their Twenty20 World Cup campaign in India later this year.
“We are also very aware of the need to give others opportunities in a World Cup year and it’s great to be able to introduce Finn and Will to the founding organization, as well as welcoming Lockie and Adam back.”
New Zealand T20 squad: Tim Southee (captain), Finn Allen, Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (wicket keeper), Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Will Young .