No place for Taylor, de Grandhomme in New Zealand's T20 World Cup squad

AUCKLAND: New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Tuesday announced a 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup to be held in the UAE and Oman under skipper Kane Williamson, but there was no place for Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme and Finn Allen, even as 34-year-old legspinner, Todd Astle — who has played four T20Is — was picked along with two other spinners — Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner.

Mark Chapman, who represented Hong Kong at the T20 World Cup in 2014 and 2016, was also a part of the 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup in October-November.

Pace bowler Adam Milne, who will travel with the squad as a standby, will be called upon only as an injury replacement, NZC said. The same squad will also three T20Is against India later this year.

NZC said the change had been effected to "balance the Black Caps' workloads over a four month-long period, incorporating tours to Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India, as well as the ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE."

NZC also said that it will announce the squad for Test squad to tour India in a month's time. "While the Test squad to tour India will not be announced for another month or so, the Black Caps' white-ball squads (for the season) will comprise a total of 32 players — including two new to the set-up in all-rounder Cole McConchie, and paceman Ben Sears," said NZC in a statement.

Tom Latham will captain the side in Bangladesh and Pakistan, and the usual combination of skipper Kane Williamson and coach Gary Stead will resume duties for the T20 World Cup and the Test tour to India. IANS

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