Cricket New Zealand on Thursday named a 15-member squad for their upcoming tour of Pakistan.

The Blackcaps abandoned their tours last year just before the first ODI fixture in Rawalpindi citing security concerns. However, they are now set to tour Pakistan for two Tests and three ODIs later in December.

The tour will be Tim Southee’s first as Test captain after Kane Williamson earlier announced he was stepping down as skipper in the longest format.

Moreover, leg-spinner Ish Sodhi has been recalled to the red-ball squad for the tour after four years.

The 30-year-old has been included alongside Glenn Phillips and the uncapped Blair Tickner. The first Test will start in Karachi on December 26 and concludes in Multan from January 3.

Trent Boult made himself unavailable for the tour, while Kyle Jamieson remains unavailable for selection as he continues his recovery from a back injury.

New Zealand Test squad

Tim Southee (c), Michael Bracewell, Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson and Will Young.

The one-day squads for Pakistan and India will be named on Monday December 19.