I'd probably expect there could be up to 20 people in the squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Gary Stead

India is all set to host the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup in the month of October and November. Ahead of the marquee event, New Zealand coach Gary Stead revealed that the Black Caps might travel to India with as many as 20 players for the T20 World Cup due to the quarantine rules and other challenges posed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Owing to the ongoing Covid-19 scare, the cricket teams have started travelling with a good number of reserve players and a bigger squad so that the players can easily be replaced in the playing XI in case of any injuries or any other emergency. After Covid-19, all the matches have been conducted in a biosecure bubble and the players have to survive a mandatory quarantine period before entering the bubble.

“The way Covid is at the moment and the way the world is changing so quickly, I’d probably expect there could be up to 20 people in the squad. In some ways, that makes it easier getting the balance you want throughout and having your people who are next in line ready to go.

“I think it’s realistic to expect that there could be guys selected to go to the World Cup later in the year, who may not have played for New Zealand (in T20s),” Gary Stead said as quoted by stuff.co.nz.

Australia are still a dangerous team: Gary Stead

Meanwhile, New Zealand is scheduled to play five T20 Internationals against Australia, starting from February 22 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Speaking about the same, Gary reckoned that though the Australian team might see the absence of some of the big names, they are still a dangerous team and have some star players in their squad.

“Australia are still a dangerous team. You could argue this is the form team of the Big Bash that’s over here right now. Yes, they may not have some of those names that we expect to see, but when you look through their lineup, they’re still class right the way through,” Stead said of the upcoming series,” Gary Stead concluded.