New Zealand have named strong T20I squads for the tours of UAE and England next month with a couple of maiden call-ups. Pace bowling star Kyle Jamieson returns to the New Zealand side after a difficult year where he underwent surgery after a stress-fracture which was discovered in his back ahead of the home Test series against England. There were also a couple of newbies in the mix with all-rounder Dean Foxcroft and 20-year-old leg-spinner Adi Ashok earning maiden call-ups. The 25-year-old Foxcroft was born in South Africa and recently qualified to play for New Zealand. He was New Zealand Cricket’s Domestic Player of the Year earlier this year for a stellar showing in the Super Smash, where he topped the run charts.

The tour party for UAE, which will be captained by Tim Southee, will have a few changes as they go to England with Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Glenn Phillips, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell and Ish Sodhi joining after their stint in The Hundred. Ashok, Foxcroft, Chad Bowes, Dane Cleaver, Cole McConchie, Henry Shipley and Will Young will be replaced by the incoming players, but the seven players will also travel to England for two warm-up T20 games ahead of the main series. "Dean’s been a really consistent performer domestically and that was acknowledged by the awards he picked up in March," New Zealand men's coach Gary Stead acknowledged.

"He’s a talented and adaptable batter who also bowls useful off-spin - so will add to our spinning stocks which is always valued in white-ball cricket. In Sodhi's absence in UAE, Ashok is expected to play a vital role. "Adi’s only in his second year of professional cricket, but we’ve been impressed with his consistency and attitude with the Aces and when he’s joined New Zealand A and the winter camps," Stead said. "With Ish Sodhi not on the UAE tour it’s an opportunity to develop our next leg-spinner." Jamieson's return is great news for the Blackcaps ahead of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in India later this year. The tall seamer last played for the Kiwis in June 2022 while his last T20I dates back to March 2021.

"Kyle’s worked really hard and made great progress to be available for this tour and we’re delighted to see him return after such a challenging year," the head coach said. "We’re all aware of his world-class skills and I know he’s really excited to get back with the group." New Zealand T20I squads UAE tour: Tim Southee (c), Adi Ashok, Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, Dane Cleaver, Lockie Ferguson, Dean Foxcroft, Kyle Jamieson, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Henry Shipley, Will Young. England tour: Tim Southee (c), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi.

 
Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP