T20 World Cup: Stephen Fleming eyes WC title with NZ – After another successful campaign with IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK), former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming will be eying T20 World Cup title with his national team New Zealand. Fleming feels that the current Kiwi squad has a lot of talent and the team needs to get the right balance going into the 2021 T20 World Cup.
T20 World Cup: After IPL 2021 title with CSK, Stephen Fleming ready to win WC trophy with New Zealand
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach on Saturday joined the Kiwis camp ahead of the start of the showpiece event as New Zealand start their T20 World Cup 2021 campaign against Pakistan in their Super 12s match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 26. After that, they will play India three days later i.e. on 31 October, at the Dubai International Stadium.
T20 World Cup: Fleming is confident with current squad: “It’s a good squad, there is a lot of talent. We’ve never had as much talent as this within New Zealand Cricket, so getting the right balance and the way you want to play the game is very important. The skill set and what these guys put out, and entertain us with, is very high,” said Fleming in an interview with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) media.
T20 World Cup: ‘Never had as much talent’: Fleming feels getting right balance key for NZ in T20 WC
“Coming to grips with these conditions will be the challenge in warm-up games… is going to be very important, and there’s a couple of key games first up so dealing with pressure and starting the tournament well is a priority,” he added.
New Zealand has been unlucky in terms of winning a World Cup as they are still searching for their first title in the shortest format, having previously reached the semi-final stages in the inaugural tournament in 2007 and again in 2016. Fleming said he is very proud to get back into New Zealand kit.
T20 World Cup: ‘Never had as much talent’: Fleming feels getting right balance key for NZ in T20 WC
“There’s a little bit of time before my MIQ spot and it’s just a great opportunity. We’ve talked for a while about sharing ideas and coming into the camp and watching these players who I’m a big fan of. I’m very lucky to have that opportunity,” said Fleming.
Find out more about what @SPFleming7 hopes to achieve and get out of his short stint with the team before the @T20WorldCup in the UAE. #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/sVHc1fXchF
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) October 17, 2021
“I’m doing five days now pre-World Cup and talk about the conditions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi which we’ve been playing in, and also cast an eye over and get some ideas back from him [New Zealand coach Stead]. I’m very proud to get the Black Caps kit back on as well,” he added.
T20 World Cup: New Zealand are placed in Group 1: Apart from former champions India and Pakistan, New Zealand also have to contend with Afghanistan and two qualifiers from Round 1 in Group 2 of the Super 12 stage. Australia, England, South Africa and the West Indies along with two qualifiers form Group 1.
The ICC men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE and Oman will get underway on Sunday, with the final to be played in Dubai on November 14.
Bangladesh will be in action on the opening day against Scotland, but it all kicks off with hosts Oman taking on debutants Papua New Guinea at the Al Amerat Cricket Stadium.
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