Michael Bracewell Appointed as Captain of New Zealand for T20I Series Against Pakistan | Cricbuzz.com

**Pakistan Tour of New Zealand, 2025: Michael Bracewell Ascends as New Zealand’s T20I Captain Against Pakistan**

In a significant development, all-rounder Michael Bracewell has been appointed to captain the New Zealand T20I team for their upcoming five-match series against Pakistan, marking his debut as a home captain. The 34-year-old first led the Black Caps against Pakistan abroad last year, handling a squad composed largely of fringe players. For this series, only seven members from the Champions Trophy lineup will participate.

The absence of key players such as regular captain Mitchell Santner, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, and Bevon Jacobs, due to their IPL commitments, presents an opportunity for a reshuffled squad. Notably, Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, and James Neesham return after missing the previous series because of their involvement in T20 leagues.

Additionally, veteran leg-spinner Ish Sodhi rejoins the squad following a hiatus during the recent Sri Lanka series. Pacer Ben Sears also returns after recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the Champions Trophy. Fast bowlers Kyle Jamieson and William O’Rourke have been included to play the first three matches, as selectors aim to manage their workload carefully.

Bracewell expressed his enthusiasm for leading New Zealand against Pakistan, acknowledging their classification as a ‘dangerous’ team. He conveyed, “It’s a tremendous honour and privilege to captain your country. I thoroughly enjoyed leading the team in Pakistan last year, and it’s gratifying to have many players from that squad involved in this series.”

Reflecting on the journey, Bracewell stated, “Mitch Santner has done a commendable job as the white-ball captain, and I aim to build upon his solid foundation and foster an enjoyable environment for the team to excel.” He further remarked, “Pakistan is a formidable short-format team with power and pace. After their early exit from the Champions Trophy, they’ll be keen to prove a point.”

Commenting on the players returning from Dubai, Bracewell noted, “Despite the disappointment, there’s immense pride in our performance and representation of New Zealand. The support from afar has been incredible, and we eagerly anticipate playing in front of our fans at home.”

The squad for the T20 series against Pakistan is as follows: Michael Bracewell (captain), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes (games 4 & 5), Mitch Hay, Matt Henry (games 4 & 5), Kyle Jamieson (games 1, 2 & 3), Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke (games 1, 2 & 3), Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, and Ish Sodhi.

**Tags:** Pakistan Tour of New Zealand 2025, New Zealand, Michael Bracewell

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