New Zealand announce squad for T20 World Cup 2026, Ferguson and Henry may leave midway

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced their 15-player squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Jacob Duffy is set for his senior World Cup debut but pacers Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry may leave the tournament midway on paternity leave.

New Zealand are banking on return of five players who suffered injuries, including skipper Mitchell Santner.

“Allen (finger/hamstring), Chapman (ankle), Ferguson (calf), Henry (calf), and Santner (adductor) are undergoing respective return-to-play plans and are currently on track to be fit for the tournament,” NZC said in a statement.

“With Ferguson and Henry's partners due to give birth during the tournament period it is likely they will be granted short-term paternity leave.”

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New Zealand have named Kyle Jamieson as travelling reserve in case one of the players’ injury resurfaces.

Tim Seifert is the designated wicketkeeper. Devon Conway can keep wickets as well. While Glenn Phillips can don the wicketkeeping gloves, his services with the ball may turn out to be useful for the Kiwis on subcontinent pitches.

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The notable omission from the squad is top-order batter Tim Robinson. He had scored an unbeaten century in a losing cause against Australia at home. However, Robinson will play in the five-T20I series against India which will work as preparation for the mega event. Bevon Jacobs and Zakary Foulkes are the other two players who will be on India tour but won't stay for T20 World Cup.

New Zealand’s squad for T20 World Cup 2026 -

Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi | Traveling reserve: Kyle Jamieson

Players missing from the squad

The notable omission from the squad is top-order batter Tim Robinson. He had scored an unbeaten century in a losing cause against Australia at home. However, Robinson will play in the five-T20I series against India which will work as preparation for the mega event. Bevon Jacobs and Zakary Foulkes are the other two players who will be on India tour but won't stay for T20 World Cup.

New Zealand’s T20 World Cup 2026 group stage schedule

New Zealand have been placed in Group D alongside Afghanistan, UAE, South Africa and Canada. The Kiwis will start their campaign against previous edition's semifinalists Afghanistan in Chennai on February 8.

They will play UAE at the same venue on February 10. Then, they will travel to Ahmedabad to take on last year's finalists South Africa. The Santner-led squad will return to Canada for their last group stage game.