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New Zealand Skipper Kane Williamson, Head Coach Gary Stead To Miss White-ball Tour Of India

ඣ New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson and head coach Gary Stead will miss the white-ball tour of India, starting next month, as part of their workload management.

Kane Williamson recently stepped down as New Zealand's Test skipper.
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New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson and head coach Gary Stead will miss the white-ball tour of India, starting next month, as part of their workload management. (More Cricket News)

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) have named split ODI squads for the away series against Pakistan, which begins on January 10, and India, sched🌸uled to start on January 𝕴18.

Newly-appointed Test captain ไTim Southee will also return home after the Pakistan tour to prepare for the home Test series against England in Feb⛄ruary.

In💫 Wiliamson and Stead's absence, Tom Latham will lead 👍the Kiwis while batting coach Luke Ronchi will serve as the head coach in the three-match ODI series against India.

Ronchi will also be in charge as the head coach🔯 for the T20 series in India, the squad for which will be announced on January 9. He will be assisted by former New Zealand women coach Bob Carter and former spi🐷nner Paul Wiseman.

All-rounder Mark Chapman and pacer🅠 Jacob Duffy will replace Williamson and Southee in the squad for the India tour.

In-form pace bowling all-rounder Henry Shipley has been handed a maiden call-up after impress🅘ing 💦in the domestic circuit. He has been named in both squads.

The ta🌸ll (1.96m) right-arm pacer and middle order power batter was the leading wicket-taker in last season’s Super Smash. 

"Henry's an exciting talent who we've 🦩had our ey🅠e on for a while," New Zealand selector Gavin Larsen said. 

"He's ta🅘ken his game to anotheඣr level in the past 12 months, and we're delighted to see his progression given how valuable genuine all-rounders are in any cricket team," he added.

Legspinner Ish Sodhi and batter Henry Nicholls, who had been omitted for the squad for the home ODI series against India, have also been namedও in the both squads.

Meanwhile, pacer Kyle Jamieson still remains unavailable for selection as꧅ he recovers from a back injury. He last played for New Zealand in June.

Larsen said the two ODI series will help prepare for the 50-over World C🍷up in India next year.

"This is a great opportunity to take on two quality white-ball sides in sub-continental conditions. It’s going to be tough cricket against world-class opposition which should prove a real test of a player’s skill and temperament.
 
"With the one-day World Cup less than a year away in India, it’s the perfect time to be playing these sides at home as we look to nail down our game-plans, and understand the different situations and conditions we may encounter."
 
Squads:

For India: Tom Latham (c), Finn Allen,Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway,Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Henry Shipley and Ish Sodhi.
      
For Pakistan:
Kane Williamson (c),Tom Latham, Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Ph𒈔illips, Mitchell Santner, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi and Tim Southee.