Indian Premier League champions Deccan Chargers start as one of the favourites in the 12-team tournament. The presence of top international stars like Andrew Symonds, Scott Styris, Rohit Sharma, Pragyan Ojha and Chaminda Vaas definitely makes them one of the teams to watch out for.
Medium-fast bowler Michael Mason, 12th man for the series opener, is also retained.
New Zealand fast bowlers Shane Bond and Tim Southee claimed four wickets each to defeat Australia by 51 runs and take a consolation victory in the final ODI at Wellington on Saturday.
Former New Zealand captain John Reid feels some members of the Australian cricket team are "idiots" who need to be reined in.
Ross Taylor had a winning start to his career as a captain as New Zealand eked out a two-wicket win over trans-Tasman tivals Australia in a closely contested opening one-day international at Napier on Wednesday.
Australia's Adam Gilchrist has replaced VVS Laxman as the captain of the Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League.
Premier New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson showed his prowess in shortest format as his smashing innings powered Northern Knights to a convincing seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka's Southern Express in a rain-curtailed opening game of the Champions League T20 in Raipur.
The match was played to help raise money for World Vision's relief fund to alleviate the damage suffered in Bangladesh from Cyclone Sidr in November.
New Zealand beat Scotland by seven wickets in a World T20 match that was reduced to seven overs a side after steady morning rain.
New Zealand Cricket Players' Association boss Heath Mills has advised Daniel Vettori and Scott Styris not to sign the Indian Premier League contracts offered to them.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat in the fifth and final One-Day International against New Zealand which was reduced to a 43-overs-a-side affair due to rain in Auckland on Saturday. India went into the match without any change to the squad that crushed New Zealand in the previous match at Hamilton, while the hosts brought in veteran Scott Styris at the cost of Ewen Thompson.
He also hit 15 runs off 6 balls as Middlesex beat Worcestershire by 32 runs in the one-day National League Division One match on Monday.
All-rounder Ewen Thompson was the only new face named in New Zealand's 13-man squad for two Twenty20 matches against the West Indies this month. Thompson, 29, has taken 16 wickets at an average of 17 and an economy rate of 6.97 playing for Central Districts.
New Zealand clinched a 3-1 win in the series by cruising to a 51-run victory over England in the fifth and final one-dayer at Lord's on Saturday, ensuring Kevin Pietersen's debut as captain ended in defeat.
New Zealand were 190 for 5, 255 runs ahead of England, at the end of day three in the third Test.
A half-century by Imran Nazir and three wickets from Umar Gul helped Pakistan beat New Zealand by six wickets in the first semi-final.
New Zealand beat England by five runs in their Twenty20 World Cup Super Eights match on Tuesday.
Glamorgan, following on after conceding a lead of 302 runs, were 240 for six.
The Kiwis left out Scott Styris and Shane Bond, who was ruled out on Sunday itself because of stiffness in the back.
India ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will join compatriot Virender Sehwag and a host of other international cricketers for a charity match at the Kia Oval on September 17.
Five wickets from left-armer James Franklin inspired New Zealand to a seven-wicket victory.
Former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris feels India opener Rohit Sharma might find it difficult to negotiate the swinging ball during the ICC World Test Championship final against the Kiwis, beginning in Southampton on June 18.
New Zealand were 121 for three in their second innings. Scott Styris was 50 not out with Jacob Oram on eight.
Craig McMillan, Lou Vincent, Scott Styris and Ian Butler will not be making the trip because of safety concerns.
Australia beat New Zealand by 44 runs in their historic Twenty20 international at Eden Park in Auckland on Thursday.
New Zealand were 97 for two from 13.4 overs chasing a Duckworth-Lewis adjusted target of 140 in their allotted 21 overs in the second ODI.
Chris Cairns has taken three wickets in his final Test to leave England wavering on 225 for five in reply to the Kiwis total of 384 on day two of the third Test.
The skipper's seventh Test century enabled New Zealand score 295 for four on day one of the third Test against England.
New Zealand were 102 for 5 in their second innings at close on day four, still 15 runs adrift of England, who made 526 in their first innings.
Martin Snedden is to accompany the team on its troubled tour of Pakistan.
The New Zealand captain has ruled himself out through injury and will return home for treatment to an abdominal strain.
Stephen Fleming says he is prepared to lead the side in the ODI series despite a threat to the team received by New Zealand Cricket.
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