12 New Zealand Players To Miss Netherlands Series As They Have Opted To Play In IPL
The New Zealand cricket team is scheduled to play a home ICC Cricket World Cup Super League series against the Netherlands cricket team soon. It will be the last international series for veteran Kiwi batter Ross Taylor. However, not all star players of the Blackcaps squad will be available for this series.
Considering the dates of IPL 2022, 12 players of the New Zealand cricket team have decided to skip the series against the Netherlands and participate in the Indian Premier League. Coach Gary Stead confirmed this development as New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced their squad for the series against the Dutch.
“Kane’s heading off to India. All the IPL guys [12 New Zealand players are part of the league] are away this week and heading off there. That’s just part of the current cycle of what it looks like in world cricket,” Stead was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.Â
The Netherlands team has already reached New Zealand for the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League series. It is a crucial series for the Dutch, considering that there are 30 points in the CWC SL points table which will be up for grabs. The Dutch would want to make it to the 2023 Cricket World Cup after failing to qualify for the mega event in 2015 and 2019.
The Netherlands will play four international matches against New Zealand
The Netherlands squad will gear up for the series against the Blackcaps with three practice matches. After that, the two nations will square off in a one-off T20I match followed by a 3-match ICC Cricket World Cup Super League series.
Although 12 Kiwi players, including captain Kane Williamson, are unavailable, the New Zealand squad will start as the favorites to win. They have got some match-winners like Tom Latham and Ross Taylor in the squad. Also, they will have the home advantage.