New Zealand names heavyweight team for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 | Cricket news
Mitchell Santner will lead the Black Caps after taking over the captaincy from Kane Williamson, who is also in the 15-man squad.
Fast bowlers Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears have been named in New Zealand's 15-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to be held in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates in February and March.
Seamers Ben Sears, Nathan Smith and Will O'Rourke will make their World Cup debuts as the Black Caps name a pace-packed line-up on Sunday.
Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner will lead the 15-man squad after being named white-ball captain last month, while Matt Henry will lead the pace attack following the retirements of veterans Trent Boult and Tim Southee.
Santner, Kane Williamson, and Tom Blundell are the only survivors of the New Zealand team from the last edition of the Champions Trophy in 2017.
The batting line-up is strong, with Devon Conway, Will Young, Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell and Williamson providing depth and experience.
Suitable for Pakistan and UAE 🏏 #Title pic.twitter.com/Q4tbhqm0xi
– BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 11, 2025
“Right now we're blessed with a lot of top-quality players who have made for some challenging selection discussions,” said coach Gary Stead.
“We went with a team that will give us the best ways to perform well in the expected conditions in Pakistan and the UAE.”
Ferguson is out of contract with New Zealand Cricket and missed the series against Sri Lanka in Australia's Big Bash League.
Sears has returned from a knee injury that sidelined him for much of last year, while O'Rourke and Smith performed well in the recent Test series against England and the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka that followed.
Jacob Duffy, who was outstanding in the T20 and one-day international series against Sri Lanka, has been named as a tour de force.
The Blacks will play warm-up matches against Pakistan, South Africa and Afghanistan in Karachi and Lahore before the tournament kicks off on February 19.
New Zealand will prepare for the tournament with a warm-up series against Pakistan and South Africa in Karachi and Lahore and a warm-up match against Afghanistan in Karachi.
The Champions Trophy is contested by the top eight men's teams in world ODI cricket.
New Zealand won the tournament for the first time in 2000.
Team: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young.
