KARACHI — Pakistan's one-day squad left for the Caribbean with captain Misbahul Haq hoping to reverse the team's dwindling fortunes in the limited over matches. Pakistan will play five one-day and two Twenty20 matches on the tour, with the first match in Guyana on July 14. Misbahul Haq will lead the one-day team while Mohammad Hafeez will skipper the Twenty20 side. Misbah said the tour was important as it would help the team regain their confidence after a humiliating Champions Trophy last month, in which Pakistan lost all three matches. “We will do our best to play hard and positive cricket and ensure that a poor show in the Champions Trophy is behind us,” Misbah said before their departure late Sunday. “The squad is focused on putting up a good show which will help in ending the disappointment of our fans and bring the confidence back.” Misbah said they faced a challenging proposition playing the Windies on their home soil. “West Indies is a tough opposition and their batting strength is aggressive but I am sure that our team will do well in all three departments of the game,” said Misbah. Dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi was recalled in the 16-man squad after missing the Champions Trophy in England, while there were also recalls for Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shahzad. Umar will also keep wicket in the absence of his elder brother Kamran, dropped for the series. Also left out were Shoaib Malik and Imran Farhat who both failed in the Champions Trophy. Three players — Hamad Azam, Zulfiqar Baber and Sohail Tanveer — will leave for the Caribbean later to feature in the two Twenty20 matches. NZ Cricket names 20 contracted players New Zealand Cricket has named six newcomers on its annual list of 20 contracted players as national coach Mike Hesson attempts to refresh a team plagued by under-performance. Promising all-rounder Corey Anderson, Rest opening batsman Hamish Rutherford, fast bowler Mitchell McLenaghan, the versatile Tom Latham and Colin Munro and veteran left-arm spinner Bruce Martin have all been included for the first time on the list of players who will be paid retainers. South African-born all-rounder Grant Elliott has returned to the list after missing out last season while test opener Peter Fulton regains a place for the first time since 2009. Players on last year's list who have been dropped include former captain Daniel Vettori, who declined a contract because of injury, and fast bowler Chris Martin, who has retired. Test batsman Daniel Flynn, wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk and one-day specialists James Franklin and Rob Nicol have also missed out. Contracts are awarded to players who score most highly on a weighting scale which measures performances in Tests, one-dayers and Twenty20 matches, placing most emphasis on Tests. Contracted players: Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Grant Elliott, Peter Fulton, Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Bruce Martin, Mitchell McClenaghan, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Colin Munro, Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson. — Agencies
