Williamson, Southee out of place in limited-overs series against Sri Lanka, will join IPL teams

Four New Zealand players, including Kane Williamson and Tim Southee, have been cleared by the country’s Cricket Board (NZC) to join their respective Indian Premier League (IPL) teams without taking part in the limited-overs home series against Sri Lanka. The quartet of Williamson (Gujarat Titans), Southee (Kolkata Knight Riders), Devon Conway and Mitchell Santner will be relieved of national team responsibilities after the second and final Test against Sri Lanka starting here on Friday. This will give them an opportunity to connect with their IPL franchise teams sooner.

Three other players in the team, Finn Allen (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Lockie Ferguson (KKR) and Glenn Phillips (Sunrisers Hyderabad) will fly to India after the first ODI in Auckland on March 25. The conclusion of the current two-match Test series After that New Zealand team will play three match ODI and as many T20 International series against Sri Lanka. The IPL will begin with a match between defending champions Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad on March 31. In Williamson’s absence, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has named Tom Latham as captain for the ODI series.

Mark Chapman, Ben Lister and Henry Nicholls will join the squad ahead of the second ODI at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on March 28. Tom Blundell and Will Young are back in the limited overs squad. Chad Bowes and Ben Lister are new faces in the team. New Zealand coach Gary Stead told the NZC website, “As a coach it’s always exciting to have new players in the team along with returning players.” Referring to the ODI World Cup (October-November) to be held in India this year, he said, “We have to play 16 limited overs matches from now till May, so many players will get a chance to test.”