Ireland Tri-Series 2017: New Zealand release Neil Wagner from squad

New Zealand fast bowler Neil Wagner has to wait a little longer to make his One-Day International (ODI) debut, as he has been released from the 15-man squad that is currently playing in Ireland Tri-Series featuring hosts Ireland and Bangladesh. Wagner will return to Essex to take part in the Royal London One-Day Cup. Wagner, who has played 32 Tests, was expected to make his ODI debut in the series. In New Zealand s first game, stand-in captain Tom Latham decided to hand debuts to fast bowler Seth Rance and Scott Kuggeleijn. New Zealand beat Ireland in that match to get off the mark in the tournament.

Wagner was set to miss at least five to six games for Essex. He also is not a part of New Zealand s squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2017, which begins from June 1 in England. Other pacers Adam Milne and Matt Henry have been allowed to continue their participation in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017. "It is a challenge for us, because we have guys coming back from the IPL," Mike Hesson, New Zealand's coach told cricbuzz. "So we will have players we will release back to England and we will give a little bit of time to acclimatise and then assess conditions, because there are still ODIs and we will need to keep picking what we deem to be our best team," he added.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is currently playing in the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and, as a result, Latham has been asked to lead the Kiwis for the very first time in his career.