NEW DELHI: As New Zealand announced their squad for the Champions Trophy on Sunday, former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali claimed the Kiwis can pose problems for both India and Pakistan.
India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh are in the same group with the Kiwis playing Pakistan in the Champions Trophy opener in Karachi on February 19.
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After facing Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 24, New Zealand will travel to Dubai to take on India on March 2.
Talking on his YouTube channel, Basit Ali claimed that the Kiwis, led by Mitchell Santner, have named a very strong team. The biggest thing that the Kiwis have done, according to Basit Ali, is that there are five fast bowlers in the squad.
And moreover, Basit Ali claimed that the Kiwis’ pace bowling is as good as their spin arsenal, adding that the veteran Santner played very well in India recently and has many variations.
Basit Ali also added that the Kiwis’ batting led by the veteran Kane Williamson is also formidable.
Looking forward to India’s Champions Trophy squad, Basit Ali also said that without Jasprit Bumrah, Indian bowling is very weak.
Basit Ali said that captaincy will make the difference in the match between New Zealand and Pakistan, adding that the Kiwis squad will pose a problem for both India and Pakistan and anyways they reach the semifinals of ICC tournaments.
New Zealand squad: Mitchell Santner (Capt.), Will Young, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke
