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New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced a 13-member squad for the three-ODI series commencing on March 29. Lahore-born all-rounder Muhammad Abbas and veteran batter (domestic) Nick Kelly have received maiden call-ups in the absence of senior players who are currently representing their respective franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Former captain Kane Williamson made himself unavailable for selection.
In the absence of Mitchell Santner, wicketkeeper-batter Tom Latham will lead the side. Experienced pacer Matt Henry has been ruled out of the series due to a shoulder injury he suffered in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal against South Africa while taking a catch. Also, Kyle Jamieson has been rested for the series to manage his workload. Meanwhile, leg-spinner Adithya Ashok has made a comeback into the side.
Chief selector Sam Wells labelled the players selected for the ODI series as 'high potential'.
"With the next ICC ODI pinnacle event still two and half years away, the series is a perfect opportunity to introduce, or re-introduce in the case of Adi, these players to international cricket now," Wells said. "Nick has been the standout domestic batsman the last few seasons. He is a dynamic strokemaker with power, and he can bat anywhere in the top six.
"Mo is one of our most promising young batters and he also provides a sixth bowling option which is required in the absence of Rachin [Ravindra] and Glenn [Phillips]."
Head coach on uncapped players
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead lauded Kelly who averages 32.90 in List A cricket and has five centuries, 20 fifties to his name.
"He's been a very, very strong domestic player for the last couple of years and I think fully deserves his spot in the team. He'll bat at the top of the order. We're excited to see what he might bring," Stead said of Kelly.
Stead called young Abbas a young talent. He looks at it as an opportunity to bolster the bench strength ahead of the ODI World Cup 2027 which will be played on South Africa soil.
"Overall, we're looking to build the depth of our players, and this tour augurs well for us in that regard to be able to do so. Mo Abbas, he's a younger player. Very, very exciting."
"I think a real, real talent, especially in playing spin bowling. I guess his ability to bowl a little bit of left-arm seam as well is really helpful in terms of us trying to build our depth of allrounders. With the ODI World Cup being two and a half years away in South Africa, it's a nice opportunity for us to blood some new players and see their credentials as well."
New Zealand's ODI squad
Tom Latham (c & wk), Muhammad Abbas, Adithya Ashok, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Mitch Hay (wk), Nick Kelly, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Will Young
