New Zealand coach Gary Stead wants IPL-returned players in World Cup squad to spend time with families

New Zealand will look to repeat a 2015-like campaign in the ICC World Cup 2019 starting May 30 but for that, the team management wants to ensure that the players get enough time to recharge their batteries. The national team head coach Gary Stead wants to ensure before the showpiece event that the players returning from the Indian Premier League (IPL) get to spend enough time with their families before they head for England.

The Blackcaps will play their first game of the tournament against Sri Lanka in Cardiff on June 1. In the New Zealand side that took on Australia in Brisbane in an unofficial three-match series last week, only five members were from the World Cup squad. The home side won the series 2-1 with a victory through DLS in the final game but they were impressive and could have won the series.

A number of Black Caps players who will participate in the World Cup featured in the IPL 2019 and as they return home, the authorities have decided to give them a few days off before leaving for England later in the week to win their maiden world title. Stead believes the off is key for the players before they take the plunge in the high-voltage event but he is also eager to keep things normal during the big event.

Some players need four or five days at home

“Between now and then some of our players need four or five days at home just to freshen up and see their families, feeling good about their wellbeing. Going to the IPL for seven or eight weeks can be tough work so reconnection with some of the families is the first thing I want to see. Then when we get over it’s as intense as we want to make it,” Stead was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Kane Williamson, who will lead New Zealand in the World Cup, played the most number of games in the IPL as he led the Sunrisers Hyderabad while Martin Guptill, Tim Southee and Ish Sodhi – all of whom are in the Kiwi squad – got lesser opportunities.

Stead also expressed his disappointment that some of the New Zealand players haven’t played more cricket but conceded that they can prepare themselves well for international cricket as professionals.

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