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Black Caps - Source: Photosport -
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Five players uncapped at international level have been included in a New Zealand 30-player preliminary squad named on Friday ahead of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup in the West Indies beginning next month.
The squad, which will be reduced to 15 players by the end of March, features Northern Districts duo Brent Arnel and Bradley Scott, Cantabrians Rob Nicol and Shannan Stewart and Central Districts' Kieran Noema-Barnett after they excelled in the domestic competition this summer.
"It's a big squad and we are covering all our bases," New Zealand coach Mark Greatbatch said in a statement.
"Realistically there are 22-23 players there who have a good chance of making the final 15.
"We have some very competitive players to compete at the World Cup. We feel that we have some depth and good skill level available for selection. It will be nice to get some of our core players back fit. It is an important month for them to get themselves ready and up to speed."
Greatbatch was referring to Ian Butler, Jacob Oram, Andy McKay, Kyle Mills and Jesse Ryder, who are all unavailable for the current home series against Australia.
New Zealand's match against Sri Lanka will launch the World Cup on April 30, with Zimbabwe the other team in their group.
Squad: Brent Arnel, Shane Bond, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Brendon Diamanti, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Jamie How, Peter Ingram, Michael Mason, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Peter McGlashan, Andy McKay, Kyle Mills, Rob Nicol, Kieran Noema-Barnett, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Aaron Redmond, Jess Ryder, Bradley Scott, Mathew Sinclair, Tim Southee, Shannan Stewart, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori
