AFP, Wellington :
Michael Bracewell will lead New Zealand (NZ) as the captain for the first time on their Twenty20 International tour of Pakistan this month, with a host of top names missing because they are playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Pakistan will host New Zealand for five Twenty20 International (T20I) matches, starting in Rawalpindi on April 18, as both teams warm up for June’s T20 World Cup in the United States and the West Indies.
All-rounder Bracewell was named captain on Wednesday on his return from more than a year out with a ruptured Achilles and broken finger in the absence of regular skipper Kane Williamson, who is playing for Gujarat Titans in the IPL.
The 33-year-old said that being informed he would captain New Zealand had capped a “golden three days” last month when he also took eight wickets for his club Wellington and had a hole-in-one playing golf.
“It’s three days that I’ll never forget,” Bracewell said.
“I’m very excited, it’s a huge honour just to be picked again for New Zealand and then on top of that selected as captain.
I wasn’t expecting that.”
IPL contracted players Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner and Williamson are all missing.
