Kane Williamson has not been picked in New Zealand’s ODI team to face Pakistan later this month.
New Zealand have named a 13-member squad for the three-match ODI series beginning on March 29. Tom Latham will captain the squad, with Muhammad Abbas and Nick Kelly receiving their first call-ups.
Kyle Jamieson will miss the ODI series as well, with the selectors deciding to manage his workload following his participation in the Champions Trophy and the T20I series against Pakistan. Matt Henry has also not been picked as he continues his rehab following his injury in the Champions Trophy.
Kane Williamson to miss the Pakistan ODIs
The major absence is that of Williamson, who had recently opted out of the central contracts for the 2024-25 season. He also relinquished his white-ball captaincy in a bid to prolong his international career.
However, he had reiterated his commitment to playing for New Zealand while making his decision. “Playing for New Zealand is something I treasure, and my desire to give back to the team remains undiminished," he said. "My life outside cricket has changed, however. Spending more time with my family and enjoying experiences with them at home or abroad is something that's even more important to me."
While the reasons for Williamson's unavailability are not known, it could be down to his commitments in the IPL and the PSL. Williamson has not been picked by any team in the IPL but has made his debut as a commentator and an expert in the league, providing his inputs on Star Sports.
He is reportedly also set to miss the first three games of the PSL that begins on April 11 due to his commentary gig. The PSL have reportedly reserved a partial replacement for Williamson, who was picked by Karachi Kings in the Supplementary Category.
This will be his debut season in the PSL, with his T20 league appearances being limited to the IPL, the Vitality Blast, SA20 and the Caribbean Premier League. He also played seven games in the Champions League.
New Zealand ODI squad: Tom Latham (capt, wk), Muhammad Abbas, Adithya Ashok, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Mitch Hay (wk), Nick Kelly, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Will Young
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