New Zealand are flying to the UAE with a new-look squad to feature in a three-match T20I series against the host nation.

The curtain-raiser is on August 17 and the series ends with a match scheduled on August 20. The Dubai International Stadium is the chosen venue for the encounters.

The white-ball series is only the second instance when the two sides will lock horns against each other after their 1996 World Cup ODI clash at Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Dean Foxcroft and Adithya Ashok have sealed their maiden berths in the team, while regulars like Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Matt Henry, Adam Milne and Ish Sodhi have been rested. Veteran pacer Tim Southee is named as the skipper of the Blackcaps.

Foxcroft has been included on the back of his superb form in the domestic circuit. He notched up 424 runs for Otago in the Super Smash T20 competition at an average of 47.11, and a strike-rate of 131.26. The all-rounder also claimed nine wickets at an economy of 7.15 with his off-spin. He also topped Otago’s run-scorers’ chart in the Plunket Shield first-class competition, piling up 631 runs at an average of 45.07. Also, the newbie had seven scalps under his belt.

Meanwhile, Ashok shot to fame for his notable first-class 2022-23 debut season. He pocketed 19 wickets for Auckland in the Plunket Shield at an average of 27.84 with his wily leg-spin.

UAE vs NZ 2023, T20I schedule: Full fixtures list, venues & match timings

Thursday, August 17: 1st T20I, UAE vs New Zealand, Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, 6pm local time.

Saturday, August 19: 2nd T20I, UAE vs New Zealand, Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, 6pm local time.

Sunday, August 20: 3rd T20I, UAE vs New Zealand, Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, 6pm local time.