Mark Chapman, who represented Hong Kong at the T20 World Cup in 2014 and 2016, has been named in New Zealand’s 15-member squad for the 2021 edition to be played in the UAE and Oman this October-November.
There was no place for Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme and Finn Allen.
But Todd Astle, the 34-year-old legspinner and all of four T20Is old, was picked along with two other spinners in the squad – legspinner Ish Sodhi and left-arm spinning allrounder Mitchell Santner – for surfaces that will most likely aid turn.
Fast bowler Adam Milne was named as a standby who will travel with the squad, but will be called upon only as an injury replacement.
The same squad will also tour India later this year for three T20Is.
The squad features four frontline fast bowlers – Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson and Lockie Ferguson.
Barring Southee, the other three would have had considerable training and match time at the IPL leading into the World Cup.
