It's a big opportunity for the younger and more inexperienced players on the Black Caps' T20 tour of Pakistan to step up according to batter Mark Chapman.
Essentially a New Zealand B side with nine regulars, including captain Kane Williamson, missing through IPL and English county duties, and others being rested or injured.
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The team is captained by Michael Bracewell and plays the first of five matches on Friday morning (NZ time) at Rawalpindi in the Black Caps' last series before the T20 World Cup in the US and Caribbean starts in June.
Only a few players are likely to be considered for the World Cup, but Chapman said the Pakistan tour provided a chance for the youngsters to shine.
"Obviously we are missing a couple of players, but we have a really exciting team here, a lot of talent, and I think it will be a really good opportunity for them to put their hands up and hopefully similar to last year it can be a really exciting series,'' he told a media conference after their arrival in Pakistan.
"I think it is an amazing opportunity to show the depth that we are building in New Zealand. Obviously the team has generally been pretty settled, but behind the scenes there is a lot of talent, young guys like Ben Sears and Will O'Rourke who have played this year in test cricket and really impressed. Also Tim Robinson who was outstanding in the Super Smash."
Sears, O'Rourke and Robinson are in the squad for the Pakistan series, while another fresh talent is Canterbury Kings all-rounder Zac Foulkes, who also had an impressive Super Smash series.
Foulkes and Tom Blundell were late call-ups to the squad after injuries to Finn Allen and Adam Milne, but the 21-year-old said he was initially reluctant to take the surprise call from Black Caps coach Gary Stead.
"I got the call from Steady, obviously it was an unknown number. I had a scam call the day before and I was a bit uncertain to pick it up but thankfully I did. Steady broke the good news to me and I was very surprised. I didn't know what to say to him to be fair. It's all been pretty quick up until now."
Foulkes said his winter plan of playing club cricket in the UK had been put on hold as he seeks to make his mark in Pakistan.
"I'm looking to keep developing. Being able to contribute with both bat and ball is something I really like."
BLACK CAPS SQUAD
Tom Blundell
Michael Bracewell (c)
Mark Chapman
Josh Clarkson
Jacob Duffy
Zak Foulkes
Dean Foxcroft
Ben Lister
Cole McConchie
Jimmy Neesham
Will O'Rourke
Tim Robinson
Ben Sears
Tim Seifert (wk)
Ish Sodhi
BLACK CAPS SCHEDULE
Friday, 19 April, 2.30am, 1st T20, Rawalpindi
Sunday 21 April, 2.30am, 2nd T20, Rawalpindi
Monday 22 April, 2.30am, 3rd T20, Rawalpindi
Friday 26 April, 2.30am, 4th T20, Lahore
Sunday 28 April, 2.30am, 5th T20, Lahore
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