Blair Tickner roped in as cover for Mitchell Santner ahead of tri-series; Santner on parental leave

Blair Tickner, the right-arm medium pacer has been brought as a cover for left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner who will not join the team until the weekend following the birth of his first baby last week. Santner will be on parental leave in the meantime as the Black Caps are all set to begin their final round of preparation before the all-important T20 World Cup.

The 28-year-old Tickner has played 11 T20Is for New Zealand and picked up 12 wickets in the process. With an economy of 8.79, Blair has a decent record in the shortest format of the game. However, with Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson already being a part of the squad, Blair might have to warm the bench unless captain Kane Williamson brings him in as a surprise package.

The tri-series will begin with Pakistan taking on Bangladesh at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on October 7, 2022. New Zealand will join the action on October 8 by taking on the Men in Green at the same venue.

It looks sometimes that the top order doesn't trust the middle order: PCB chief selector

Before the tri-series and the T20 World Cup in Australia, Mohammad Wasim, the chief selector of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made a shocking statement, to say the least. It’s a known fact that the players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan like to stay till the end and finish the game but in doing so, their strike rate takes a hit. There has been a lot of controversy regarding the same and Wasim, became the latest person to take a jibe at the captain and his deputy.

“It does look sometimes like the top order doesn't trust the middle order, but you can improve this. As a batter, you get disappointed, but at the same time, you have to look up to the other group as well. I am sure coaches have spoken and this isn't a good message that the top-two wickets falling result in the entire team getting out. So there is a need to show more faith on the others," Mohammad Wasim was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.