Key players return as New Zealand announce squad for T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe

Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, and captain Mitchell Santner return to the squad after missing the March series against Pakistan

PHOTO: AFP

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has named a 15-member squad for the upcoming T20I tri-nation series in Zimbabwe, also featuring South Africa, starting July 14 in Harare.

The squad signals a fresh start under new head coach Rob Walter, as the Black Caps gear up for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. However, some notable names are missing from the lineup, including former captain Kane Williamson and lead pacer Lockie Ferguson.

Williamson is unavailable due to his ongoing county stint with Middlesex and upcoming commitments with London Spirit in The Hundred. Ferguson has been rested as part of his workload management. Kyle Jamieson will also sit out the series as he awaits the birth of his first child, while Ben Sears has been ruled out due to a side strain.

Returning to the T20I setup is Adam Milne, who last played in February 2024 and missed the previous T20 World Cup following ankle surgery. Milne has been in good form recently, taking nine wickets in four games for the Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket (MLC).

One of the highlights of the squad is the maiden call-up for uncapped batter Bevon Jacobs, who earned selection following consistent domestic performances and recent exposure in franchise cricket. He was previously included in New Zealand’s squad for the Sri Lanka T20I series in December.

Key players Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, and captain Mitchell Santner return to the squad after missing the March series against Pakistan due to IPL commitments. However, Devon Conway has not been selected for the tour.

Head coach Rob Walter, who will be supported by assistants Luke Ronchi, Jacob Oram, and James Foster, expressed confidence in the squad’s depth and balance.

“I think we’ve got a really strong squad for this tour and I’m looking forward to getting the team together,” Walter said.

“It’s great to have back some of the players who missed the last series. It should be a great T20 tri-series with South Africa who are a very strong side and Zimbabwe who play well at home in their own conditions,” he added.

“With the T20 World Cup around the corner, all of our upcoming series are critically important to our build up. This series gives us the opportunity to test the breadth of our squad, explore different players and potentially different combinations against some quality opposition,” he concluded.

New Zealand will begin their campaign against South Africa on July 16, just two days after the MLC final. NZC confirmed that player replacements may be announced later depending on scheduling conflicts.

After the tri-series, New Zealand will stay in Zimbabwe for a two-match Test series in Bulawayo.

New Zealand T20I squad:

Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi

T20I Tri-Nation Series Schedule (Harare Sports Club):