New Zealand name 15 for Malaysia

New Zealand have announced their 15-player squad for the Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia next month. There are five players with experience in first-class and provincial cricket, while several impressed at the recent national Under-19 championship.

The captain is yet to be decided, although it was Kane Williamson in the recent match in Hamilton. There are two wicketkeepers in the squad - Michael Guptill-Bunce and Michael Bracewell.

"The competition gives our emerging players the opportunity to test their skills in a tournament environment against world's best," said coach Dipak Patel, one of four selectors alongside Lance Cairns, John Wright and Kaushik Patel. "It is a stepping stone for potential future Blackcaps, giving players a chance early in their careers to experience a high level of tournament play.

The squad assembles on Thursday 31 January before attending a camp in Queensland, moving on to Malaysia on Sunday 10 February. New Zealand will play Malaysia, Zimbabwe and Pakistan in the first round.

Squad Corey Anderson, Nicholas Beard, Harry Boam, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Tamati Clarke, Fraser Colson, Michael Guptill-Bunce, Greg Morgan, Jeet Raval, Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Anurag Verma, Kane Williamson, George Worker.