Key players return as New Zealand name squad for tri-series

A host of key players have returned to the fold as New Zealand named a 15-player squad for next month's T20I tri-series against South Africa and hosts Zimbabwe.

The Black Caps welcome back the likes of Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and skipper Mitchell Santner for the tri-series at Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe, after the trio sat out their most recent T20I series against Pakistan on home soil in March.

There is a call-up for uncapped batter Bevon Jacobs and pacer Adam Milne, while pace trio Ben Sears (side injury), Lockie Ferguson (load management) and Kyle Jamieson (family) are all sidelined as is veteran Kane Williamson (unavailable).

The series will be the first for new Black Caps coach Rob Walter and will form a crucial lead-up for the side ahead of next year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

“I think we’ve got a really strong squad for this tour and I’m looking forward to getting the team together and getting into the work,” he said.

“We’ve got some good experience in the side and it’s nice to be able to welcome back a few of the players who missed the March series against Pakistan because of the IPL.

“It should be a great T20 tri-series with South Africa who are a very strong side and Zimbabwe who play well at home in their own conditions.”

Walter is hoping to use the tri-series to help find combinations that can be successful during the 2026 T20 World Cup.

“With the T20 World Cup around the corner, all of our upcoming series are critically important to our build up," he added.

“This series gives us the opportunity to test the breadth of our squad, explore different players and potentially different combinations against some quality opposition.”

New Zealand's first game in the tri-series is against South Africa in Harare on July 16.

New Zealand squad: Mitch Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi

Tri-series fixtures:

July 14 - Zimbabwe v South Africa

July 16 - South Africa v New Zealand

July 18 - Zimbabwe v New Zealand

July 20 - Zimbabwe v South Africa

July 22 - New Zealand v South Africa

July 24 - Zimbabwe v New Zealand

July 26 - Final

*All games will be played at the Harare Sports Club.