Lockie Ferguson names captain as New Zealand announce second-string squad for Bangladesh ODIs

Lockie Ferguson-led New Zealand will tour Bangladesh for an ODI series right before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

New Zealand are on a tour to England for the white-ball series. They will play four ODIs and four T20Is on the tour. The four-match T20I series is underway. But the Black Caps are currently behind as England have taken a 2-0 unassailable lead in the series. This series will be followed by a four-match ODI series between the two teams.

After the conclusion of the tour, New Zealand will travel to Bangladesh for an ODI series. That tour will begin on September 21. Thus, the New Zealand Cricket Board announced the squad for Bangladesh on Saturday. The squad saw all the senior players getting rested, and the selectors have sent a second-string team for the tour. The squad will be led by pacer Lockie Ferguson.

New Zealand to tour Bangladesh for the ODI Series led by Lockie Ferguson 

It will be an important series in order to get used to the conditions. The 2023 ODI World Cup is scheduled to take place in India between October and November. New Zealand will be part of the season's opener against England on October 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. However, the selection committee has decided to rest the seniors to manage the workload.

With back-to-back cricket matches and a long tournament coming up in India, it will be very important to keep the players fit and fresh. Tom Latham, who is leading the team against England in the ongoing tour in the absence of injured Kane Williamson, who is also not part of the announced squad.

Adding to that, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Darly Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Glenn Philips, and Tim Southee are rested. Meanwhile, James Neesham and Mark Chapman have been dropped. With that, head coach Gary Stead has also gotten some rest, and batting coach Ronchi will be the interim coach on the tour.

New Zealand Squad for Bangladesh ODIs: Lockie Ferguson (c), Finn Allen, Reaching Ravindra, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Chad Bowes, Dane Cleaver, Dean Foxcroft, Kyle Jamieson, Will Young, Cole McConchie, Adam Milne, Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner