Tim Southee and Tom Latham are being considered as potential replacements for Kane Williamson as the captain of New Zealand’s ODI World Cup team according to ESPNcricinfo report.

Earlier, Williamson had sustained a rupture in his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite this setback, the regular skipper for New Zealand has begun his post-surgery rehabilitation process.

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It’s worth noting that during Williamson’s absence, Latham has stepped up as the interim captain for the Blackcaps. He demonstrated his leadership skills during the Pakistan tour, leading the team to a 2-2 tie in the T20I series and a 4-1 victory in the ODI series.

Also Read: Kane Williamson may join New Zealand’s ODI World Cup Squad as a Mentor

Regarding the selection process, New Zealand’s coach Gary Stead stated, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo, “That’s something that still needs to be worked out. Tim is leading the Test team as well. Tom has had plenty of white-ball experience for us in the past. Despite captaining a team with several unfamiliar faces [in Pakistan], he handled the challenge well.”

Stead also lauded Daryl Mitchell, acknowledging his consistent contributions to the team. “Daryl seizes every opportunity in various positions, repeatedly demonstrating his value to the team,” Stead told reporters in Auckland. During the Pakistan tour, Daryl excelled in the ODI series, achieving two centuries.

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Will Young also performed well, averaging 48, though Stead clarified that no decisions had been finalized regarding his role going forward. “Will’s had an impressive start to his international career, particularly in the white-ball game. He’s played well against some of the Associate teams and scored heavily, but it was particularly pleasing to see his performance against a strong attack like Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan.”

Stead concluded by emphasizing the team’s flexibility with time, “We have three months to make our decision. The World Cup draw is still pending, and we’re unsure of our playing locations. It’s challenging to solidify plans until these details are confirmed.”

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