Latham to captain T20 Squad v Sri Lanka and Pakistan

Tom Latham
Photo: Photosport Ltd 2022

Tom Latham will return to international T20 action for the first time since 2021 to lead the Black Caps T20 sides against Sri Lanka at home and Pakistan away.

Latham will captain both squads which feature potential T20 debutants in Canterbury Kings duo Chad Bowes and Henry Shipley, along with several players returning to international T20 cricket on the back of strong international and domestic form.

The squads for Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be split, with 13 players named for the three-game T20 Series against Sri Lanka which starts at Eden Park on Sunday 2nd April, before a 15-strong squad departs to Pakistan on April 9.

Cole McConchie, Rachin Ravindra and Tim Seifert have all been selected in a T20 squad for the first time since 2021.

Seifert features in the squad for the home series against Sri Lanka but won’t travel to Pakistan as he and his wife await the birth of their first child.

Dane Cleaver, Cole McConchie and Blair Tickner are the new players to be added to the group when the squad moves to Pakistan.

While Shipley was included in the Black Caps T20 squad on this year’s tour to India, Bowes has been selected for the first time in the format fresh off his ODI debut at Eden Park on Saturday.

Black Caps coach Stead said Latham’s return to T20 cricket reflected his ability to adapt his game and his leadership.

“We saw against India earlier this season the power and range of shots that Tom possess. His adaptability also means he can feature in a range of batting positions.

“He led an inexperienced T20 squad to Bangladesh in 2021 and we were really impressed with his leadership of that group during a COVID bubble tour.”

Stead said the two series presented opportunities for a number of players.

“We’ve got players returning and guys potentially making their debuts, that’s a really exciting mix to have in the group for these matches.

“Players like Tim and Cole haven’t been around the squad for little while and I am sure they will bring good energy when they are involved. They have both earned their selection with strong domestic form this season.”

Head coach Gary Stead will take a break during the T20 series in Pakistan before rejoining for the five-game ODI series which begins in Rawalpindi on April 26.

Shane Jurgensen will lead the coaching staff for the three-game T20 series against Pakistan.

The T20 squad to face Sri Lanka will assemble in Auckland on Saturday April 1 ahead of the first match of the T20 Series at Eden Park the following day.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan T20 Squads

Tom Latham (c, wk)

Chad Bowes*

Mark Chapman

Dane Cleaver (PAK T20s)

Matt Henry

Ben Lister

Adam Milne

Cole McConchie (PAK T20s)

Daryl Mitchell

Jimmy Neesham

Rachin Ravindra

Tim Seifert (SL T20s)

Henry Shipley*

Ish Sodhi

Blair Tickner (PAK T20s)

Will Young

*uncapped in T20I