Tag: New Zealand

Afghanistan announced their squad for next month’s ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, with prolific opener Ibrahim Zadran returning after an injury lay-off but spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman missing out.

The country’s performance in white-ball cricket has been strong recently — finishing sixth in the ICC ODI World Cup in 2023 and reaching the semi-final in last year’s T20 World Cup.

This will be the first time Afghanistan participate in the eight-nation Champions Trophy, staged between February 19 and March 9 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

“Zadran, who was away from action due to an ankle injury, has returned to the squad,” said a statement from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).

“However, Mujeeb Ur Rahman misses out on the selection, as AM Ghazanfar, a similar mystery spinner, has made the cut for the mega event.”

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Rahman was left out because “he has been advised by his doctor to focus on T20s for a while to ensure his full recovery”, added acting ACB chief selector Ahmad Suliman Khil.

But the ACB said that the fast-rising opener Sediqullah Atal did secure a place in the squad.

Afghanistan beat England and Pakistan in the ODI World Cup and Australia and New Zealand in the T20 World Cup.

The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on 19 February with host and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser in Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.

Afghanistan will kick off their Champions Trophy campaign with a clash against South Africa in Karachi on February 21, before they face England and Australia in Lahore.

Afghanistan squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Naveed Zadran and Farid Ahmad Malik.

READ: Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood return to Australia squad for Champions Trophy

Skipper Pat Cummins and injured paceman Josh Hazlewood were named in the squad of Australia for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, in Pakistan next month.

Cummins opted out of the Sri Lanka series, which is set to commence later this month, due to the birth of his second child. He is also reportedly carrying a knee injury.

Meanwhile, Hazlewood was included in the two-time tournament winners’ preliminary 15-man line-up after calf and side strains restricted him to just two Tests during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India over the summer.

While they return, opener Jake Fraser-McGurk was dumped, paying the price for his poor recent form after opening for Australia during their most recent one-day series against Pakistan.

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“This is a balanced and experienced squad with the core having been involved in the previous one-day World Cup, the West Indies series, last year’s successful tour of the UK and the more recent Pakistan home series,” said chief selector George Bailey.

“It offers a variety of options for touring management depending on the opposition and the conditions that may present in Pakistan.”

The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on 19 February with host and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser in Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.

Australia squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Pat Cummins (capt), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

READ: Women’s Ashes 2025: Ashleigh Gardner helps Australia defeat England in first ODI

AUCKLAND: New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Sunday announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled in Pakistan, with India playing their matches in Dubai.

Seasoned players Kane Williamson, Devon Conway and Lockie Ferguson were recalled to form an experienced New Zealand squad to contest the Champions Trophy.

The aforementioned three players were unavailable for the recently concluded home ODI series against Sri Lanka because of offshore T20 commitments.

Batters Williamson and Conway have been playing in South Africa’s T20 league while pace bowler Ferguson is involved in Australia’s Big Bash competition.

Ben Sears was also selected for the ICC tournament co-hosted by Pakistan and UAE, having missed the 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka with a knee injury.

It will be the first senior ICC event for Sears and fellow pace bowlers Will O’Rourke and Nathan Smith.

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Coach Gary Stead will oversee a squad he said also boasted experience and depth.

“We’re currently blessed with a lot of quality players and that certainly made for some challenging selection discussions,” Stead said.

Spin bowler Mitchell Santner will lead New Zealand at a major event for the first time, after being named full-time white ball captain in December.

Santner, former skipper Williamson and wicketkeeper Tom Latham were all part of the New Zealand squad for the last edition of the Champions Trophy, in England and Wales in 2017.

New Zealand will contest the tournament’s opening match against Pakistan in Karachi on February 19, followed by pool games against Bangladesh and India.

New Zealand squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Mitchell Santner (c), Will Young, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke

READ: Shakib Al Hasan dropped as Bangladesh announce squad for Champions Trophy

DHAKA: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, with veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan missing out.

The all-rounder was recently banned from bowling in competitions governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). This decision came on the heels of an independent re-assessment of his bowling action revealing concerns over the legality of his deliveries.

Although Shakib Al Hasan remained eligible to participate as a specialist batter, the Bangladeshi selectors opted to exclude him.

Moreover, Bangladesh will also be lacking the services of another veteran player, Tamim Iqbal, who recently retired from international cricket, despite having been approached by the team’s white-ball captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, along with other key figures within the squad, urging him to reconsider.

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However, experienced players such as wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim and all-rounder Mahmudullah have secured their places in the contingent, bringing their wealth of knowledge and skill to the mix.

The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on 19 February with host and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser in Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.

Bangladesh are placed in Group A alongside India, Pakistan and New Zealand. They will play their opening game in the tournament against India in Dubai on February 20.

Bangladesh squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mahmudullah Riyad, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana.

READ: Tamim Iqbal retires from international cricket again

New Zealand explosive top-order batter Martin Guptill announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 38, the country’s cricket board confirmed on Wednesday.

Guptill, who last represented New Zealand in 2022, will continue to play franchise white-ball cricket across the globe. He played a total of 367 games, including 198 ODIs, 122 T20Is and 47 Tests, since making his international debut in 2009.

He scored 23 international centuries across the three formats and closes his career as New Zealand’s leading T20I run-scorer with 3,531. He also racked up 7,346 ODI runs and 2,586 in Test cricket.

“As a young kid it was always my dream to play for New Zealand and I feel incredibly lucky and proud to have played 367 games for my country,” Guptill said in an NZC statement.

“I will forever cherish the memories made wearing the silver fern alongside a great group of guys.

“I want to say a huge thanks to all my team-mates and coaching staff over the years, in particular Mark O’Donnell who has coached me since the Under-19 level and been a source of ongoing support and wisdom over my career.

“Finally, I’d like to thank all the cricket fans, here in NZ and around the world for all their support throughout the years.”

Guptill began his 14-year international career in January 2009 in a blaze of glory when he became the first New Zealander to score a century on ODI debut, against the West Indies in Auckland.

He became the first New Zealander to score an ODI double-century at the 2015 World Cup when he smashed 237 not out in the quarter-final win over the West Indies in Wellington.

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That innings, along with his unbeaten 189 against England in Southampton in 2013, and his 180 not out against South Africa at Hamilton in 2017, rank as three of New Zealand’s top four individual ODI scores.

He came agonisingly close to delivering the 2019 ODI World Cup to New Zealand but was narrowly run out off the final ball of the Super Over to hand victory to England.

Guptill also scored two T20I hundreds: 101 not out off 69 balls against South Africa at East London’s Buffalo Park in 2012, and 105 off 54 balls against Australia six years later in Auckland.

He played 47 Tests for New Zealand, scoring 17 half-centuries and three hundreds.

His final international appearance was a T20I against Bangladesh in Christchurch in October 2022.

“I was fortunate to open the batting with him for the Blackcaps over many years and I often felt I had the best seat in the house to watch him go about his work,” said New Zealand Test captain Tom Latham.

“On his day Gup was world class and his crisp ball striking and timing could take down the best bowling attacks in the world.

“His numbers speak for themselves but it was the matches he helped us win that I’ll remember, along with the way he set the standard in the field.”

New Zealand will pay tribute to Martin Guptill during the third and final ODI against Sri Lanka in Auckland on Saturday.

READ: Babar Azam, Rizwan move up, Saud Shakeel suffers decline in ICC Test Rankings

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the relocation of the upcoming tri-nation ODI series involving New Zealand and South Africa on Wednesday.

The tri-nation ODI series was originally scheduled to be held in Multan in February, however, it has been relocated to the upgraded Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and National Bank Stadium in Karachi.

This decision reflects the PCB’s confidence in the readiness of these upgraded venues and their ability to deliver a world-class experience for players, officials, and fans alike. Further details regarding the series will be shared in due course.

The cricket board further provided an update regarding the aforementioned stadium, with Gaddafi Stadium’s being increased to 35,000 and new chairs installed throughout the venue.

Additionally, 480 state-of-the-art LED lights have been installed to enhance broadcast LUX levels, ensuring superior viewing quality for fans worldwide. To further elevate the spectator experience, two giant digital replay screens – measuring 80 feet x 30 feet and 22 feet x 35 feet – will be installed next week.

The stadium is set to be inaugurated in the last week of January.

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A brand-new players’ and officials’ hospitality enclosure has also been created, which will be operational by 25 January. The iconic stadium is set to provide an unparalleled experience for all stakeholders.

At the National Bank Stadium, significant enhancements have been made, including the creation of a new players’ and officials’ hospitality enclosure at the University End.

To improve broadcast coverage, 350 LED lights have been installed, ensuring optimal visibility for global audiences. Two digital replay screens have already been fixed, and 5,000 new chairs have been installed to enhance spectator comfort.

Meanwhile, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is undergoing minor touch-ups, focusing on the installation of 10,000 new chairs, upgrades to hospitality boxes and the installation of two digital replay screens.

These improvements are designed to ensure the stadium exceeds international standards for upcoming events.

Schedule of Tri-series (Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa)

8 February 2025, Pakistan vs New Zealand

10 February 2025, South Africa vs New Zealand

12 February 2025, South Africa vs Pakistan

14 February 2025, Final

READ: Fakhar Zaman ready to make a comeback in Champions Trophy

Veteran New Zealand pacer Tim Southee has registered for the highly-anticipated Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 Player Draft on Tuesday.

The draft will take place in the port city of Gwadar in Balochistan on Saturday, 11 January 2025. The start timing of the event will be shared in due course.

Southee’s registration for the upcoming season was confirmed through a banner post on the PSL’s social media accounts, which was captioned “Kiwi pace supreme Tim Southee enters the HBL PSL Draft.”

At 36 years old, he is a notable figure in the world of cricket, currently holding the record for the highest wicket-taker in T20I history. Since his debut in 2009, he has taken a total of 164 wickets in 126 matches.

His skills as a fast bowler have made him one of the most in-demand players in various franchise leagues around the world.

He has showcased his talent in prestigious competitions such as The Hundred Men’s Competition, the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Vitality Blast, and the Champions League T20.

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In a notable addition to his career, Southee has recently made headlines by registering for the PSL 10 Player Draft, marking him as the fourth New Zealander and the 22nd foreign player overall to do so.

Prior to him explosive Kiwi batters Colin Munro, Daryl Mitchell and Martin Guptill have registered for the upcoming season of the league.

A host of international stars have officially signed up for the eagerly awaited Pakistan Super League (PSL) draft, including Rassie van der Dussen, Corbin Bosh, Rilee Rossouw, Matthew Short, Gudakesh Motie, Alex Hales, Luke Wood, Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Usman Khawaja,  Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Curran, David Willey, Dawid Malan, Jason Roy, Shakib Al Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman and Sikandar Raza.

READ: Can India qualify for WTC final after Melbourne Test defeat against Australia?

Hard-hitting New Zealand batter Bevon Jacobs earned a maiden call-up on Monday for their T20I series against Sri Lanka, which marks the start of Mitchell Santner’s tenure as white-ball captain.

Jacobs has turned heads since bursting on the domestic scene last year and was a surprise pick-up by Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction this month.

New Zealand will face Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series, starting on Saturday in Mount Maunganui followed by three ODIs from January 5.

It’s worth noting that this ODI series will be New Zealand’s last before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, hosted by Pakistan.

However, Jacobs has been included in the T20I squad only.

“It’s obviously an exciting time for Bevon and his family,” said selector Sam Wells “He’s a promising player with a lot of talent and we’re looking forward to exposing him to international cricket.”

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“He’s clearly got a lot of power with the bat, but he’s also shown in the longer formats that he has a decent technique and temperament.”

Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell and Matt Henry all return to the white-ball squads after missing last month’s trip to Sri Lanka to prepare for the just-finished England Test series.

Henry leads a youthful pace attack which includes Zac Foulkes, Will O’Rourke, Jacob Duffy and all-rounder Nathan Smith.

Santner is the frontline spin option, alongside all-rounders Ravindra, Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips.

Kane Williamson and Devon Conway are playing in South Africa’s SA20 competition and were unavailable while Ben Sears (knee) and Kyle Jamieson (back) continue their rehabilitation from injury.

New Zealand squads for the series against Sri Lanka

T20I squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Nathan Smith

ODI squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Mitch Hay, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Will Young

READ: Mohammad Amir comments on Babar Azam-Virat Kohli comparison

AUCKLAND: New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has appointed all-rounder Mitchell Santner as captain of the white-ball teams on Wednesday.

Santner has taken over the captaincy from Kane Williamson, the star batter who stepped down from the position following the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 held in June.

The 32-year-old left-arm spinner has prior experience leading New Zealand, having captained the side in 24 T20Is and four ODIs. However, his first series as the full-time captain will be against Sri Lanka, scheduled for late December.

“It’s obviously a huge honour and a privilege to be asked,” Santner said. “When you’re a young kid the dream was always to play for New Zealand but to have the opportunity to officially lead my country in two formats is special.

“It’s a new challenge and I’m excited to get stuck into the important period of white-ball cricket that we have ahead of us.”

New Zealand’s head coach Gary Stead has elaborated on the decision not to appoint Tom Latham as white-ball captain.

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Stead emphasized that the main factor influencing this decision was Latham’s current workload, suggesting that balancing captaincy of both red-ball and white-ball teams would have been challenging for the player.

“In Tom Latham, we have an accomplished and experienced captain who has led the side admirably across all three formats,” Stead said.

“Tom’s doing a great job as full-time Test captain since taking over in October and we’re keen to allow him to focus on that job which requires a considerable amount of time and energy.”

“Mitch is a fantastic team man and leads by example in all facets of the game. He’s an incredibly calm and collected personality and he has a huge amount of respect in the changing room, which will serve him well.

“He’s had plenty of experience leading the T20 side and did a good job when he captained the ODI team last month, so he already has a good understanding of what it means to lead the team.

“I’m sure Mitch will also bring his own ideas and style of leadership to the role.”

READ: Ravichandran Ashwin announces retirement from international cricket

New Zealand crushed England by 423 runs in the third Test of the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy to send Tim Southee into retirement on a triumphant note on Tuesday.

It was New Zealand’s equal-highest victory by runs and a complete reversal from the first two Tests, which England won easily to clinch the three-match series.

New Zealand sealed a dominant performance in Hamilton by claiming seven wickets in 41.2 overs on day four as England crumbled for 234.

Playing on his home ground at Seddon Park, seamer Tim Southee finished with 2-34 in his 107th and final Test, ending the career of one of New Zealand’s finest players. He finishes with 391 Test wickets, second only to Richard Hadlee among New Zealanders.

“I want to thank New Zealand Cricket for everything you have done. My family, who are there for the ride and see the ups and downs,” said the 36-year-old. “And my teammates — these guys have made the ride so much more enjoyable, I have loved every minute.”

“And finally the fans. It is always great to turn out in front of numbers. This week has been pretty special to play at Seddon Park in front of a great crowd.”

New Zealand only needed to take nine second-innings wickets for an emphatic victory because England skipper Ben Stokes did not bat.

Stokes suffered a hamstring injury on Monday and limped off in distress, having torn the hamstring in the same left leg just a few months ago.

The scale of the latest injury has not been revealed but that, and the way England capitulated in Hamilton, ended their series on a sour note.

After resuming at 18-2, England never threatened their enormous target of 658, their hopes dwindling further when losing Jacob Bethell for 76, Joe Root for 54 and Harry Brook for just one before lunch.

They looked comfortable for the first hour before Root departed, having put on 104 for the third wicket with Bethell.

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England’s greatest run-scorer was trapped lbw attempting to sweep left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner. Having been given not out, New Zealand successfully reviewed, with ball-tracking showing the ball would have hit the middle stump.

It left 33-year-old Root 28 runs short of becoming the fifth player to score 13,000 Test runs.

Brook, who scored match-winning centuries in each of the first two Tests, was out cheaply for the second time at Seddon Park, caught behind off a sharply rising Will O’Rourke delivery.

Left-hander Bethell batted fluently, striking 13 fours and a six, until he swung at a wide Southee delivery to be caught at deep point.

Ollie Pope (17) was bowled attempting to reverse scoop pace bowler Matt Henry before Gus Atkinson’s hard-hit 43 ended when caught in the deep off Santner.

Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse fell cheaply, also trying to hit Santner out of the ground.

All-rounder Santner justified his recall by taking 4-85 to finish with seven wickets in the match, alongside scores of 76 and 49 with the bat.

Having been beaten by eight wickets and then 323 runs in the first two Tests, the Black Caps belatedly gave the home fans something to cheer about. They had come into the series buoyant, having sealed a historic 3-0 sweep in India.

READ: Trophy unveiled for Pakistan-South Africa ODI series