Cricket: Wagner named in NZ squad

WELLINGTON: South Africa-born pace bowler Neil Wagner was fast-tracked into New Zealand’s Test squad for their tour of the West Indies, just two weeks after receiving approval from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to be selected despite not meeting residency requirements. The ICC requires a player to spend at least 183 days in a country for four successive years to be considered for selection. The 26-year-old Wagner, who moved to New Zealand in 2008, failed to achieve the minimum number of days on two occasions. However, the ICC’s approval makes him the third South Africa-born player to be named in the Test squad.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2012.