New Zealand's star batsman Kane Williamson has announced he will be opting out of several international matches in January to participate in the South Africa T20 league. Despite stepping down as captain and forgoing a contract for the 2024/25 season, Williamson intends to continue playing for his country as long as possible. However, with other key players like Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson also opting out of future tournaments, New Zealand may face a challenging rebuilding phase in the coming years. Williamson believes it is important for players to balance their cricketing careers with their personal lives, and urges cricket boards to monitor the growing number of players prioritizing T20 franchise cricket over international duties.
The 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 has been announced by New Zealand Cricket, with Kane Williamson leading the team once again at a global event. The squad also sees the inclusion of youngster Rachin Ravindra, while pacers Kyle Jamieson and Adam Milne are sidelined due to injury. The Black Caps will face tough competition in Group C against West Indies, Afghanistan, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea.
After winning the first two matches in the five-match series against Pakistan, New Zealand made three changes to their team while Pakistan made one change due to an injury. Mitchell Santner will be leading the Black Caps in place of Kane Williamson, who is injured. The third T20 international will be held at University Oval, with Pakistan choosing to bowl first after winning the toss.
In an intense showdown at Seddon Park, opener Finn Allen led the charge for New Zealand with an explosive 74 off just 41 balls. Despite facing a setback when captain Kane Williamson retired hurt, the home team managed to post a formidable target of 194-8. Pakistan will need to chase down 195 to level the five-match series 1-1 after their loss in the first game.