Inexperienced New Zealand squad impresses coach Stead in T20 series vs Pakistan

NEW DELHI: Gary Stead, the coach of the New Zealand cricket team, expressed his satisfaction with the performance of his inexperienced squad in their recently concluded Twenty20 series against Pakistan.
Despite losing the final match in Lahore by nine runs and sharing the series 2-2, Stead commended the team's ability to recover from a heavy defeat in the first game in Rawalpindi.
Stead, who is set to announce his World Cup squad on Monday, acknowledged that many of the players on this tour might not make the final cut for the tournament in the United States and Caribbean.
However, he emphasized the significance of competing well against Pakistan, who were World Cup finalists just two years ago.
The touring squad was largely a second-string team, with nine first-choice players unavailable due to their commitments in the Indian Premier League and Test skipper Tim Southee being rested.
Despite this, several young players showcased their potential, including opener Tim Robinson, who scored 51 off 36 in the fourth match, and seamer Will O'Rourke, who delivered a Man of the Match performance in the same game with figures of 3-27 from his four overs.
Stead stressed the importance of all players in the international set-up continuing to work hard, even if they are not selected for the World Cup squad. He noted that replacements would likely be needed at some point during the tournament, with players from the IPL set to join the team either after their teams are eliminated or immediately following the conclusion of the league.
The coach also encouraged fringe players who miss out on selection to keep training in case of any injuries to the selected squad members.
(With inputs from Reuters)