Central Districts Cricket will add a new name to its honours board of New Zealand representatives when left-arm off-spin bowler Ajaz Patel makes his Test debut against Pakistan in October.

After having been New Zealand’s top first-class wicket-taker for an impressive three seasons on the bounce, Patel is the sole new face in the BLACKCAPS Test squad that will play in spin-friendly UAE under the yet-to-be-named new BLACKCAPS coach.

CDCA CEO Pete de Wet said that CD’s entire cricketing community was still buzzing after this week’s squad announcements that will also see the consistent 29-year-old make his New Zealand A debut on a concurrent tour of the UAE.

Earlier this year, Patel also stepped up for his NZXI debut earlier in a composite side selected to play England in a Seddon Park warm-up, and was named both NZC’s Domestic Player of the Year and Central Stags Player of the Year among a clutch of gongs at the 2018 CDCA Awards night.

“2018 has turned into a massive year for Ajaz and it’s fantastic to see the rewards coming for such a dedicated professional,” said de Wet.

“As our number one spinner, his reliability and consistency has made him an intrinsic part of the Stags’ success over the past few summers and he was at the very forefront of our first-class Plunket Shield championship win this summer. I’m delighted to see him rewarded with selection at the highest level.”

Called into replace ND’s Mitchell Santner, who is still recovering from knee surgery, Patel took 48 first-class wickets at 21.52 in 2017/18 and will join Ross Taylor in the BLACKCAPS Test squad, while fellow Central Stags Seth Rance and Adam Milne were named alongside Taylor in the BLACKCAPS T20 squad to play Pakistan with Taylor also named in the ODI squad.

With two players to be added to both the T20 and ODI squads, George Worker, Tom Bruce, Will Young and, for the first time, Blair Tickner all have a chance of joining the BLACKCAPS tour after all were named in the New Zealand A squad alongside Patel.

NZA will play three T20s, three 50-over games and two first-class matches against Pakistan A from mid October.

BLACKCAPS selector Gavin Larsen said the tour presented a good opportunity for Patel, who will join Todd Astle and Ish Sodhi as a front-line spinner in the 15-strong Test squad.

“Ajaz has deserved his inclusion on the sheer weight of his domestic first-class form over the past couple of summers,” said Larsen.

“With Mitch Santner not fully recovered yet from his knee surgery, it’s nice to have both wrist [Todd Astle and Ish Sodhi] and finger [Patel] spin options, given the likely conditions in the UAE.

“Ajaz is pretty special, he's done a great job for the last 3 or so years for the Stags. You talk to first-class batsmen around the country and his name is always coming up in despatches, and he has really moved his game forward in the last couple of seasons. And that’s not to underestimate, either, his white-ball bowling — so, he’s part of the full NZA tour.”

The power bases of Burger King Super Smash T20 cricket is reflected by a BLACKCAPS T20 squad exclusively comprised of selections from the Central Stags, Knights and Auckland Aces — and, will include an interim replacement for front-line paceman Trent Boult who will be on paternity leave.

One of the last two spots to be filled, it creates an exciting opportunity for Blair Tickner on his maiden NZA tour to put his hand up, the entertaining young paceman having dominated last season’s Burger King Super Smash.

Tickner will be competing against the likes of Canterbury’s Kyle Jamieson and the Knights’ Scott Kuggeleijn for the spot and Larsen said with NZC now placing a greater emphasis on providing an “A” programme, it was an exciting time for all the country’s emerging players — and an excellent opportunity to develop and expand their capabilities.

“This is a great opportunity for us to spread the net a little wider and evaluate and monitor the next crop of potential BLACKCAPS coming through the system,” he said.

“Given India A will also be visiting New Zealand over the coming summer, there is a lot to play for.”

The BLACKCAPS and NZA tour schedule is yet to be released, but the NZA squad will depart for the UAE on October 6. CDCA warmly congratulates all players selected.

BLACKCAPS T20 Squad

Kane Williamson — captain, Northern Districts

Mark Chapman — Auckland

Colin de Grandhomme — Northern Districts

Lockie Ferguson — Auckland

Martin Guptill — Auckland

Adam Milne — Central Districts

Colin Munro — Auckland

Seth Rance — Central Districts

Tim Seifert — Northern Districts

Ish Sodhi — Northern Districts

Tim Southee — Northern Districts

Ross Taylor — Central Districts

+ two players to be added from NZA

BLACKCAPS ODI Squad

Kane Williamson — captain, Northern Districts

Todd Astle — Canterbury

Trent Boult — Northern Districts

Colin de Grandhomme — Northern Districts

Martin Guptill — Auckland

Matt Henry — Canterbury

Tom Latham — Canterbury

Colin Munro — Auckland

Henry Nicholls — Canterbury

Ish Sodhi — Northern Districts

Tim Southee — Northern Districts

Ross Taylor — Central Districts

BJ Watling — Northern Districts

+ two to be added from NZA/BLACKCAPS T20i squads

BLACKCAPS Test Squad

Kane Williamson — captain, Northern Districts

Todd Astle — Canterbury

Tom Blundell — Wellington

Trent Boult — Northern Districts

Colin de Grandhomme

Matt Henry — Canterbury

Tom Latham — Canterbury

Henry Nicholls — Canterbury

Ajaz Patel — Central Districts

Jeet Raval — Auckland

Ish Sodhi — Northern Districts

Tim Southee — Northern Districts

Ross Taylor — Central Districts

Neil Wagner — Northern Districts

BJ Watling — Northern Districts

NZ A Squad

Corey Anderson — Northern Districts

Todd Astle (T20s, One-Day, and first FC match) — Canterbury

Tom Blundell — Wellington

Tom Bruce — Central Districts

Mark Chapman (T20 only) — Auckland

Lockie Ferguson (T20 only) — Auckland

Kyle Jamieson — Canterbury

Scott Kuggeleijn — Northern Districts

Ajaz Patel — Central Districts

Glenn Phillips (T20 and One-Day) — Auckland

Jeet Raval (FC matches) — Auckland

Rachin Ravindra — Wellington

Tim Seifert (T20 and second FC match) — Northern Districts

Blair Tickner — Central Districts

Logan van Beek (One-Day and FC matches) — Wellington

George Worker — Central Districts

Will Young — Central Districts

Neil Wagner (Second FC match) — Northern Districts

BJ Watling (One-Day and first FC match) — Northern District