Paceman Boult rested for final ODI vs Pakistan

Wellington Jan 18 (IANS) New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Thursday decided to rest fast bowler Trent Boult for the fifth and final match of the One-day International (ODI) series against Pakistan and the first T20I against the same opposition.

Boult who took 1/73 as the Kiwis beat Pakistan to go 4-0 up in the ODI series at Hamilton on Tuesday will miss the final match here on Friday and the opening T20I on Monday.

Boult will then return to the T20I squad for the second and third matches of the series to be played at Auckland and Mount Maunganui with the Black Caps keen to rotate their squad and try out different combinations in the shortest format.

Lockie Ferguson Ross Taylor and Tim Southee are selected for the upcoming T20I series but will all rest at various points allowing less experienced players the opportunity to impress.

Seamers Ben Wheeler and Seth Rance will join the New Zealand side for the last ODI and will stay on for the first T20I.

Mark Chapman who is second on the New Zealand domestic T20 competition s batting chart was denied a spot in the squad by Tom Bruce who continues to be a part of the side.

Ish Sodhi Glenn Phillips and Anaru Kitchen are all included for the T20I series having not been involved in the ODIs.

New Zealand T20I squad: Kane Williamson (Captain) Trent Boult (2nd & 3rd T20I only) Tom Bruce Colin de Grandhomme Lockie Ferguson (2nd & 3rd T20I only) Martin Guptill Anaru Kitchen Colin Munro Glenn Phillips Seth Rance Mitchell Santner Ish Sodhi Tim Southee (1st & 3rd T20I only) Ross Taylor (1st T20I only) Ben Wheeler.

--IANS
tri/dg