Quick bowler Blair Tickner has been added to the New Zealand squad for the home T20I triangular series with Pakistan and Bangladesh as cover. Tickner's addition was necessitated by the absence of Mitchell Santner, NZC said.
Santner will be joining the squad late - most likely by the weekend - after being away with his family following the birth of his first child last week. Santner's absence from New Zealand's first game of the tri-series - against Pakistan on Saturday - have left New Zealand with just the lone specialist spin option in Ish Sodhi, though Kane Williamson can turn to Michael Bracewell's part-time offspin if needed too.
Of the 16 players now part of the set-up for the triangular series [including Santner], Tickner is the only one who is not part of the main squad named the T20 World Cup that starts later this month in Australia. New Zealand have stocked their squad with seamers: Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee and Adam Milne are the frontline quicks, with James Neesham as a seam-bowling allrounder.
Tickner was part of the New Zealand squad that toured Europe in the summer, taking seven wickets in three T20Is against Ireland and Netherlands. Earlier this year, he also received his maiden NZC central contract.
The T20I triangular series kicks off with the two touring teams - Pakistan and Bangladesh - facing off on Friday. The three sides will play each other twice each in the round-robin stage before the final, scheduled for October 14. All the matches will be played in Christchurch.
NZ squad for tri-series: Martin Guptill, Finn Allen, Kane Williamson (capt), Devon Conway (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, Blair Tickner