(Reuters) - Michael Bracewell was named captain of a weakened New Zealand squad to play five Twenty20 internationals in Pakistan later this month as part of preparations for June's World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States.

The 33-year-old all-rounder was a surprise selection to lead the squad having missed last year's 50-overs World Cup with an Achilles rupture and played his last T20 international more than a year ago.