Wellington: Fast bowler Ben Sears has been named as a reserve player in New Zealand’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.
New Zealand Cricket announced on Friday that Sears will join the team in Mumbai on Sunday ahead of the tournament.
Sears replaces Kyle Jamieson, who was initially brought into the squad following Adam Milne’s hamstring injury last week. Milne suffered the injury while bowling in the SA20 league, and scans revealed the severity of the damage, ruling him out of the World Cup.
Currently representing Wellington in New Zealand’s domestic Super Smash competition, Sears has been in impressive form.
Head coach Rob Walter said Sears has made a strong recovery from his own hamstring injury, which had sidelined him at the start of the home summer season.
“Ben has worked hard to get back on the field, and it has been great to see him playing well again. He played the full Super Smash campaign with the Firebirds, taking 15 wickets in nine matches, making him the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the round-robin stage,” Walter commented.
Walter added, “Having Ben with us in India will be valuable, and he is ready to step in if any player gets injured during the World Cup.”
New Zealand has been placed in Group D alongside Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, and the UAE. The Kiwi team will face Afghanistan in their opening match on February 8 in Chennai.
New Zealand T20 World Cup Squad: Mitchell Santner (Captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi
Reserve: Ben Sears
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