New Zealand names high pace squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 | Cricket News

Mitchell Santner will lead the Black Caps after taking over the captaincy from Kane Williamson, who is included in the 15-man squad.

Fast bowlers Loki Ferguson and Ben Sears have been recalled to New Zealand’s 15-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates in February and March.

Seamers Ben Sears, Nathan Smith and Will O’Rourke will play their first global tournaments on Sunday.

Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner will lead the 15-man squad after being named white-ball captain last month, while Matt Henry will lead the pace attack following the international retirements of stalwarts Trent Boult and Tim Southee.

Santner, Kane Williamson and Tom Blundell are the only survivors of the New Zealand squad from the last edition of the Champions Trophy in 2017.

The batting line-up is strong with Devon Conway, Will Young, Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell and Williamson providing depth and experience.

Ready for Pakistan and UAE 🏏 # Champions Cup pic.twitter.com/Q4tbhqm0xi

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 11, 2025

“We’re blessed with a lot of quality players at the moment and it’s certainly made for some tough selection discussions,” coach Gary Stead said.

“We have gone with a squad that will offer us the best options to perform well under the expected conditions in Pakistan and the UAE.”

Ferguson is no longer contracted to New Zealand Cricket and he missed the series against Sri Lanka while playing in the Australian Major League.

Sears is returning from a knee injury that sidelined him for much of last year, while O’Rourke and Smith impressed in the recent Test series against England and the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka.

Jacob Duffy, who excelled in the T20 and one-day international series against Sri Lanka, was named the traveling reserve.

The Black Caps will play warm-up games against Pakistan, South Africa and Afghanistan in Karachi and Lahore before starting the tournament on February 19.

New Zealand will prepare for the tournament with warm-up tri-series against Pakistan and South Africa in Karachi and Lahore and Afghanistan in Karachi.

The Champions Trophy is contested by the top eight ODI men’s teams in world cricket.

New Zealand won the tournament for the first time in 2000.

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