Vettori included in New Zealand selection panel

COLOMBO - New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has been included in the cricket selection panel, which has underwent few alterations in the past week.

From the previous panel, convener Glenn Turner is the only person to remain, while, Dion Nash has stepped down citing business and family commitments and John Wright has stepped aside to concentrate on the development area.

Vettori has been included in the selection panel along with Mark Greatbatch, who was previously a selection adviser and coach Andy Moles.

“We’ve thought through them all and we’ve made it very clear to Dan if he is sidelined with a long- term injury, he would no longer be on the selection panel. Taking on the role of captain has increased his performance on the field, so, I don’t think added responsibility is something we need to worry about,” stuff.co.nz quoted Justin Vaughan, New Zealand Cricket chief executive, as saying.

Vaughan further said that the decision was influenced by the norm of senior captains around the world having a major say in selection.

“If you look at the likes of Ricky Ponting and Graeme Smith, they have a lot of say even if they are not part of the formal decision,” Vaughan said.

He also said that Vettori’s relationship with other players is extremely strong and having him as a selector would not make any difference.

“We felt there was no point beating around the bush. We wanted Dan to have a say in the selection of his team,” Vaughan said.

Meanwhile, the old panel did name a 15-member one-day squad for the Champions Trophy in South Africa, starting from September 22.

The players are Daniel Vettori (captain), Shane Bond, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Brendon Diamanti, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor and Daryl Tuffey. (ANI)