Chris Symes/Photosport
Black Caps batter Rachin Ravindra hits out during the second ODI against Bangladesh in Nelson.
New Zealand Cricket’s breakout star of 2023 won’t be sighted when the Black Caps take on Pakistan in a five-match Twenty20 series which starts on Friday next week.
Coach Gary Stead confirmed batting allrounder Rachin Ravindra would be rested for the series which opens at Auckland’s Eden Park on January 12.
The return of key pace bowlers Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson from injury are the other main talking points as captain Kane Williamson reclaims the reins after being rested for the Bangladesh series.
In a statement, Stead said Ravindra was not considered as Williamson’s replacement when the skipper sits out game three of the series in Dunedin on January 17.
“Rachin’s a young player who has immense value to New Zealand Cricket and we therefore want to look after his wellbeing,” Stead said.
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“He’s the only player or staff member to have been touring non-stop for the past five months across five countries and that’s simply not sustainable.
“He’s still very much part of our thinking for the T20 World Cup in June and will come back into the reckoning for the T20 series against Australia in February.”
Ravindra was the fourth-highest runscorer at the Cricket World Cup, and secured his first Indian Premier League contract last month when picked up by coach Stephen Fleming’s Chennai Super Kings for around $350,000 at the player auction.
Henry was included two months after he was ruled out of the Cricket World Cup in India with a hamstring injury.
He is scheduled to make his return to the field on Friday, when his Canterbury Kings side face the Central Stags in a Super Smash contest at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
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Matt Henry will return from injury in the T20 series against Pakistan (file photo).
Ferguson, who was sidelined during the World Cup by an Achilles tendon injury, was named for the final three matches of the series.
It means fellow fast bowler Ben Sears – who impressed against Bangladesh – will play just games one and two.
Kyle Jamieson and Michael Bracewell were not considered due to injury, although the latter will achieve a milestone on Thursday.
Seven months after suffering a serious Achilles injury in England, Bracewell was named to play his comeback match in the Super Smash for Wellington Firebirds against the Auckland Aces at Eden Park’s outer oval.
Black Caps Twenty20 squad to face Pakistan: Kane Williamson (captain – games 1,2,4 and 5), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson (game 3 only), Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson (games 3,4 and 5), Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears (games 1 and 2), Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee.
Unavailable: Kyle Jamieson (hamstring), Michael Bracewell (Achilles tendon), Trent Boult, Jimmy Neesham (both overseas T20 commitments).
Schedule:
Friday January 12, 7.10pm: 1st T20I at Eden Park, Auckland
Sun Jan 14, 7.10pm: 2nd T20I at Seddon Park, Hamilton
Wed Jan 17, 1pm: 3rd T20I at University Oval, Dunedin
Fri Jan 19, 7.10pm: 4th T20I at Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Sun Jan 21, 1pm: 5th T20I at Hagley Oval, Christchurch
