Will O'Rourke, , Tickner return for white-ball series against Bangladesh

After being sidelined due to injuries, the pace trio of Matt Fisher, Will O'Rourke, and Blair Tickner have returned to the national team. New Zealand has named 15 teams for the ODI and T20I series against Bangladesh later this month. Test captain Tom Latham will lead the side, with regular white-ball captain Mitch Santner unavailable due to his commitments with Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. Due to participation in the IPL and PSL, a number of other New Zealand players who appear frequently across formats will also be absent from the series. After being sidelined for varying lengths of time during the domestic summer due to injuries, the three fast bowlers are set to return to international cricket. O'Rourke has been selected for the three ODIs due to a back injury, Fisher has been selected for the T20Is due to a shin injury, and Tickner has been selected for both squads due to an ankle injury. The players' return to contention, according to head coach Rob Walter, was encouraging. Walter stated, "We're pleased to welcome Will, Blair, and Matt back into the group." He added, "Will, Blair, and Matt have been working very hard over the past few months to get themselves back on the park and back in contention for selection." "Having a variety of bowling options is essential given the current level of cricket play. The team benefits greatly from having players of this caliber return," he added. Dean Foxcroft, an off-spin all-rounder, has been called back to the white-ball lineup after last playing in a Twenty20 International in April 2024. After participating in the historic away series victory against India in January, Kristian Clarke and Jayden Lennox may also be eligible for additional opportunities. For the tour, which includes three ODIs and three T20Is, New Zealand is scheduled to arrive on April 13. The teams will play the first two one-day internationals on April 17 and 20 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. On April 23, they will travel to Chattogram for the third match, which will be played at the Bir Shreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium. The first two Twenty20 Internationals will be played in Chattogram on April 27 and 29, with the final match set for May 2 in Dhaka. On March 27, Bangladesh played their first game of the series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.