Fast bowler Ben Sears will soon make his international return after being named as part of the Black Caps’ 15-man Champions Trophy squad, which will head to Pakistan and the UAE next month.

The 26-year-old hasn’t played for New Zealand since April 2024, as a knee injury ruled Sears out of the Black Caps’ 3-0 test series win in India– and most of the home summer so far.

But a return in the T20 Super Smash for Wellington has convinced selectors Sears is ready to go, as part of a five-prong pace battery for the Champions Trophy. Sears will be joined by newcomers Will O’Rourke and Nathan Smith, with all three playing in their first world tournament.

However, Sears’ inclusion leaves Jacob Duffy as the unlucky man to miss out, after the 30-year-old impressed with seven wickets in New Zealand’s 2-1 T20 series win over Sri Lanka, and another four strikes in two matches of the 2-1 ODI series victory.

Matt Henry will lead the attack following the international retirements of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, while Lockie Ferguson has also been picked despite his lack of a New Zealand Cricket central contract.

The 33-year-old fast bowler has just completed a stint playing in Australia’s Big Bash League for the Sydney Thunder, where he collected eight wickets in six matches at an average of 21.50, and an economy rate of 7.16 runs per over.

Ferguson has since travelled to the UAE for the ILT20 competition, where he’ll play for the Desert Vipers and gain experience in conditions the Black Caps will face when they play against India in Dubai on March 2.

Duffy will travel with the squad as cover for Ferguson, should his ILT20 tournament commitments overlap with the Black Caps’ tri-series with hosts Pakistan and South Africa at the start of February.

Mitchell Santner will captain the side in what will be his first taste of leadership at a global tournament. Santner is the sole specialist spinner, while Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips are all named as all-rounders.

In the batting ranks, both Kane Williamson and Devon Conway have been named, also without central contracts, albeit with both having casual playing agreements with New Zealand Cricket. Williamson will play his third Champions Trophy, adding to his appearances in 2013 and 2017.

Conway will also serve as back-up wicketkeeper, as deputy to Tom Latham, while there was no room for Canterbury’s Mitch Hay, who deputised against Sri Lanka.

Will Young, Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman round out the batting unit, all of whom played in the ODI series win over Sri Lanka.

In the coaching department, regular coaches Gary Stead, Luke Ronchi and Jacob Oram are joined by Sri Lanka great Rangana Herath, who was part of the management group during New Zealand’s tour of India at the end of 2024.

The Black Caps are to travel for the tri-series against Pakistan and South Africa from February 8-14, before an official warm-up match against Afghanistan in Karachi on February 16.

New Zealand’s Champions Trophy campaign begins against the hosts in Karachi on February 19, before moving to Rawalpindi to face Bangladesh on February 24.

The Black Caps will then travel to the UAE to face India in Dubai on March 2, after their opponents refused to play in Pakistan for the tournament.

Should they qualify, the Black Caps could also return to Dubai on March 4, for the first semifinal. Otherwise, the second semifinal will be held in Pakistan’s Lahore on March 5.

No venue has been confirmed for the tournament final, with organisers waiting to see if India qualify.

Black Caps squad: Mitchell Santner (captain), 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.

Alex Powell is an Online Sports Editor for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016, and previously worked for both Newshub and 1News.