After having made his BLACKCAPS debuts in both white-ball formats this summer, JOSH CLARKSON is set to now make his first trip away with the team as the BLACKCAPS head to Pakistan for a five-game T20 international tour this month.

The April hit-out in Rawalpindi and Lahore is part of the build-up to the next ICC Men's T20 World Cup in the West Indies in June.

Central Stags allrounder Clarkson is one of the fresher faces in the squad - alongside uncapped Wellingtonian power hitter Tim Robinson and Canterbury fast bowler Will O'Rourke who will be looking to add a T20 International debut to his impressive first season of Test and ODI cricket in 2023/24.

 

PHOTOSPORT

 

The big Stags allrounder Clarkson got his first BLACKCAPS call-up earlier this summer and acquitted himself well in three One-Day Internationals against Bangladesh.

Then the powerful 27-year-old earned his first T20 International squad selection in early January, with selectors saying he would come in for the third T20i against Pakistan to give KANE WILLIAMSON a match off. However, Clarkson injured his shoulder in the lead-up.

Clarkson's T20i debut did arrive eventually, however - against Australia in Wellington, playing in all three games. He now has three ODIs and three T20is on his CV, with wickets and catches in both formats for the BLACKCAPS while still looking for the opportunity to shine with his number one skill set: hitting the ball out of the park.

Fellow Central Stag and contracted BLACKCAP WILL YOUNG was unavailable for selection for the tour due to County Cricket and personal commitments, leaving Clarkson to fly the Stags' flag solo in the 15-strong squad that will be captained for the first time by Wellington's Michael Bracewell.

Two former Stags are in the side, however, in DEAN FOXCROFT (now Otago Volts captain) and ADAM MILNE (now with the Wellington Firebirds).

Others who were unavailable for selection include Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner and Kane Williamson (Indian Premier League commitments), Tom Latham (awaiting the birth of his second child). Tim Southee (conditioning following a busy playing schedule) and Colin Munro.

READ MORE ABOUT THE FULL SQUAD ON THE NZC WEBSITE HERE

BLACKCAPS

Tour of Pakistan

April 2024

Michael Bracewell (c) - Wellington Firebirds

Finn Allen - Auckland Aces

Mark Chapman - Auckland Aces

Josh Clarkson - Central Stags

Jacob Duffy - Otago Volts

Dean Foxcroft  - Otago Volts

Ben Lister - Auckland Aces

Cole McConchie - Canterbury Kings

Adam Milne - Wellington Firebirds

Jimmy Neesham - Auckland Aces

Will O’Rourke* - Canterbury Kings

Tim Robinson**  - Wellington Firebirds

Ben Sears - Wellington Firebirds

Tim Seifert (w) - Northern Brave

Ish Sodhi - Canterbury Kings

*Uncapped in the T20i format

**Uncapped for BLACKCAPS in any format

SCHEDULE (shown in NZT)

Game 1 • 2AM Friday 19 April • Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

Game 2 • 2AM Sunday 21 April  • Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

Game 3 • 2AM Monday 22 April • Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

Game 4 • 2AM Friday 26 April • Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Game 5 • 2AM Sunday 28 April • Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

PHOTOSPORT

Article added: Wednesday 3 April 2024