Sears and O'Rourke included in New Zealand's Champions Trophy squad

Ben Sears is back from injury to bring pace to New Zealand's attack • Getty Images

WELLINGTON (New Zealand), January 12 — Fast bowlers Ben Sears and Will O'Rourke have been included in New Zealand's squad for the Champions Trophy alongside allrounder Nathan Smith.

Sears, who was a travelling reserve for the T20 World Cup last year, recently played his first game since April having returned in the Super Smash following injury and is in line for his ODI debut having played one Test and 17 T20Is. O'Rourke has impressed across formats early in his international career and has been especially eye-catching in Tests.

Smith, meanwhile, will bring lower-order power with the bat and bustling seam bowling.

Head coach Gary Stead said Sears had been in New Zealand's Champions Trophy plans all along, with his pace through the air seen as a clinching factor on pitches in Pakistan.

"We've been a little conservative in Ben's return to play, but we always had an eye that we thought he would be part of this Champions Trophy squad," Stead said. "He's one of those guys, when you look at places like Pakistan, that pure speed is something that you're looking for, and he certainly has that. A young tearaway is always nice to see, and very excited to have him in the squad."

Stead was confident Sears would hold up fine, match-fitness-wise, after his return from injury.

"Ben's been bowling a lot over the winter still," he said. "He's been in and around our Test squads before he had that injury, so we're very confident that he will be where he needs to be."

With Sears, O'Rourke and Smith included, there was no place in the main squad for Jacob Duffy, who is coming off a breakthrough season in international white-ball cricket.

"It's a tough decision," Stead said. "Jacob Duffy has been probably the one that people would say is hard done by. He's been very very good in what he's played for us. I think the way to look at it, though, is that if some of these guys, perhaps like a Lockie Ferguson, were available, Jacob Duffy may not have got the opportunity, so for us it's a real positive story that although Jake's missed [out], it's still positive that we're growing that depth long-term for our team."

Ferguson, Williamson and Conway face T20 league logjam

The same squad will take part in the ODI tri-series in Pakistan ahead of the Champions Trophy, which will also feature South Africa. Duffy has been named on standby for that series, if Ferguson is not available for those games due to the ILT20. There will also be a tight turnaround for Kane Williamson and Devon Conway who are at the SA20.

The final of the SA20 will be played on February 8, with the ILT20 decider the following day. New Zealand will play Pakistan on February 8 in their first game of the tri-series followed by South Africa on February 10. They then have a warm-up match against Afghanistan on February 16.

Stead said New Zealand were looking to have Ferguson, Williamson and Conway play at least two matches - including the warm-up - to ready themselves for the Champions Trophy. "Those three guys, they're world-class players for us. So Kane, Devon and Lockie will join our squad - they could be there at the very start of the tri-series, [or] it might be a couple of days later."

Mitchell Santner will lead New Zealand for the first time in a global event and will be able to lean on the experience of the likes of Williamson and Tom Latham.

Mark Chapman and Will Young have earned spots while spin-bowling allrounder Michael Bracewell has also been included.

New Zealand will play the tournament opener against Pakistan in Karachi. Their second match is against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi before they travel to Dubai to face India.

"We like to stick to the same team once we've picked it but it will probably be very conditions-dependent," Santner said. "Karachi could play a lot different to Rawalpindi, and again in Dubai. With the short nature of the tournament, if you're happy with your XI, you want them to be out there and perform for the full three games. But we're open to changes depending on conditions. You need to play your best team on what's in front of you, and conditions will probably dictate it."

New Zealand squad for Champions Trophy and Pakistan tri-series

Mitchell Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young