No Place For Ajaz Patel As New Zealand Announce 13-Member Squad For Bangladesh Tests

India-born New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel has been dropped from the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh at home.

On Wednesday, New Zealand Cricket in a release, announced a 13-member squad that will play a couple of Tests against Bangladesh, starting in the new year.

Surprisingly, 33-year-old Ajaz, who recently created a historic moment after picking 10 wickets in an innings against India in the Mumbai Test, was excluded from the Black Caps’ Test squad against Bangladesh.

You do feel for Ajaz Patel after his record-breaking display in India: Gary Stead

However, Ajaz’s spin partner Rachin Ravindra was included in the 13-member squad. New Zealand head coach Gary Stead explained that picking Rachin ahead of Ajaz was to suit the conditions at home.

“You do feel for Ajaz after his record-breaking display in India. However, we’ve always applied a horses-for-courses selection policy and believe the players selected best fit the way we want to take on Bangladesh here at home,” Stead was quoted as saying by the official website of New Zealand Cricket.

“We feel having both Rachin and Daryl (Mitchell) in the squad gives us a nice balance and the ability to pick a side best suited to the conditions we expect,” he further added.

Disappointing not to have Kane Williamson available for this series: Gary Stead

New Zealand will be playing their first Test series at home since they won the inaugural World Test Championship against India in June this year.

The Black Caps will be without the services of their talismanic player Kane Williamson, who has been ruled out owing to an elbow injury.

In Williamson’s absence, opener Tom Latham will lead the side against Bangladesh. Stead showed his confidence in Latham as a leader but wants Williamson to recover very well.

“It’s great to be back home and at venues we know well, and where we’ve had success in recent times” said Stead.

“It’s obviously disappointing not to have Kane available for this series but, as we noted in India, he is undergoing a sustained period of rest followed by rehabilitation, strengthening and gradual batting loading.

“We have every confidence in Tom leading the side – he’s done an excellent job in the past when called upon,” he added.

New Zealand hosts Bangladesh for the first Test match at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, the match begins on January 1.

New Zealand’s 13-member squad for the Bangladesh Test series:

Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, Will Young.

Also Read: Ajaz Patel’s 10-Wicket Ball Will Be Placed In “Pride Of Place” – MCA President