Saqlain Mushtaq was hired as an assistant coach by New Zealand on Tuesday. The team was also named for the upcoming five-match ODI series against Pakistan.
Later this month, when the Black Caps visit Pakistan, the two teams will also compete in a T20I series.
Tom Latham will captain the team, and Ben Lister and Cole McConchie will make their professional debuts while on tour.
The regular Canterbury captain was chosen for the T20 team to travel Pakistan as a result of a successful domestic cricket season in all forms.
The second-highest total of any player this season is McConchie’s 1,140 runs across all formats. He has also taken eight wickets.
Lister was named to the ODI squad for the recently concluded ANZ ODI Series match against Sri Lanka but did not play. He now has the opportunity to build on his successful T20 debut against India from earlier this year.
Additionally, the 15-man roster includes additional opportunities for Chad Bowes, Rachin Ravindra, and Henry Shipley, who recently made their ODI debuts.
These fresh faces are countered by an experienced core that includes six players from the team that advanced to the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup final.
Nine members of the team have recently travelled to Pakistan as they participated in either the Test or ODI squads that visited Karachi earlier this year.
With Saqlain Mushtaq joining the group as an assistant coach, the travelling teams will also get further expertise in Pakistani circumstances.
The possibility of competing against Pakistan in both white ball formats, according to NZ coach Gary Stead, is enticing.
In the previous season, we had a lot of thrilling games versus Pakistan in both white ball formats, both at home and away. No matter where you take them on, they are a formidable bunch.
“The successful ODI series earlier this year in Pakistan gave the players significant learning opportunities, and having more ODI match experience in a World Cup year is fantastic.
“Having someone with Saqlain’s experience is a big boost for the group and we are looking forward to the insights he can offer us to aid our preparations for local conditions, in particular the help he can provide to our spin bowling group,” the statement continued.
Stead praised McConchie for his impressive consistency this season.
“Cole has been a leader for Canterbury and at the New Zealand A level for a number of seasons, but this summer, his contributions to victories in various formats really stood out.
His bat and ball skills are valuable, especially given the conditions we anticipate on this tour.
Lister, a player for the Aces, has impressed the coaching staff, according to Stead, with his eagerness to learn since joining the Black Caps organisation.
Making your debut in India is a difficult task, so it has been wonderful to watch Ben make an effort to take advantage of every opportunity since.
ODI team for New Zealand:
Blair Tickner, Will Young, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Shipley, Henry Nicholls, Chad Bowes, Matt Henry, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, and Tom Latham (c).
The team will leave on April 9, the day after the T20 Series against Sri Lanka concludes in Queenstown, according to the NZ board.
The first of the five T20I games will take place on Friday, April 14 in Lahore, and the first of the five ODI games will begin on Wednesday, April 26 in Rawalpindi.
