Wellington pair set to debut in Black Caps

6:21 am on 25 March 2025

Wellington Firebirds Muhammad Abbas appeals, 2025. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Wellington pair Nick Kelly and Muhammad Abbas have been named in the Black Caps squad for the ODI series against Pakistan this month.

The pair have been called up with Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips all playing in the IPL.

31-year-old Kelly, who is set to open the batting alongside Will Young, has scored 1,307 runs across all three formats during the 2024-25 season, including his fifth List A century (118) against Canterbury in February.

Kelly also leads the run-scoring charts in this season's Plunket Shield with 749 runs, including four centuries.

Abbas, who featured for New Zealand A against Australia A last summer, had a memorable Ford Trophy campaign scoring 340 runs at 42.50 and registered his maiden List A century (104) against the Central Stags in New Plymouth in February.

Born in Pakistan, Abbas immigrated with his family to New Zealand when he was one and is the son of Azhar Abbas who played first-class cricket in Pakistan as well as for Auckland and Wellington, and is currently the Firebirds assistant coach.

22-year-old Auckland Aces leg spinner Adi Ashok is also included. He made his international ODI debut against Bangladesh in December 2023.

Tom Latham will captain the side which includes eight members of the squad which reached the ICC Champions Trophy Final in Dubai earlier this month.

Will O'Rourke, Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith and Ben Sears form the pace attack, while Michael Bracewell is the other spin option.

The selectors decided not to pick Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson as they work through rehabilitation and workloads while Kane Williamson wasn't considered for selection after making himself unavailable.