The former captain is playing for the Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League which started today, and appeared for an MCC XI against the Rest of the World XI last weekend in a 50-over game to mark the bicentenary of cricket at Lord's. He bowled 10 overs for 47 in that match.
New Zealand's selection manager, Bruce Edgar, confirmed the 35-year-old was in the thinking of national coach Mike Hesson and himself for the World Cup, which starts on February 14.
Vettori asked the selectors not to consider him for a national contract, for the second consecutive year. However, Edgar said his information is that Vettori is bowling well, and in good physical shape after a frustrating two-year battle with injuries.
"He's basically said he's available for short-form cricket," Edgar said. "It's over to us from a selection perspective, subject to form and fitness."
The most recent of Vettori's 284 ODIs was against England in Cardiff last June. He coached the Royal Challengers Bangalore in this year's Indian Premier League so did plenty of bowling in the nets.
He is also playing again for the Brisbane Heat in Australia's shortened Big Bash League, to run from December 18 to January 28.
New Zealand have 17 ODIs from now until the start of the World Cup, a critical period in which the selectors will look at a range of players to ensure they have the best available mix for the tournament.
They have three against South Africa, when they make a brief tour here in October; five against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in December; seven on Sri Lanka's tour to New Zealand in December-January; and two more against the Pakistanis on January 31 in Wellington and February 3 in Napier. That includes a block of nine ODIs in 24 days.
"There's a whole host of commitments Daniel's got at the moment in and around what we'd like to utilise him on at some point," Edgar said. "He gives us another option in terms of selection."
Edgar said he and Hesson would guard against players being overworked in the lead-up to the cup.
"We want to utilise those 17 one-dayers to give people an opportunity.
"In that time, if we're looking to try and peak players for a major competition, we want to get enough information out of them, give them an opportunity to perform and be exposed at international level," Edgar said.
"But we also don't want to burn them out so when they do turn up at the competition they aren't weary or carrying niggles."
So it'll be a juggling exercise in the couple of months before the cup. However, Edgar made it clear that, subject to form and fitness, "I'm sure [Vettori will] be strongly considered".
NZC must name an initial group of 30 players several weeks before the tournament, which is reduced to 15 shortly before the start.
Doug Bracewell's rehabilitation back into New Zealand's international plans has begun.
The Central Districts seamer has been called into the New Zealand A side to tour England shortly, replacing his provincial teammate Adam Milne, who is injured.
Bracewell was rubbed out of national consideration after the most recent incident last February when he and Jesse Ryder were out drinking in Auckland in the early hours before the start of a test against India.
Edgar said Bracewell had ticked every box asked of him during NZC's winter camps in Lincoln, and progress and evaluation reports had been positive.
"Doug has been working very hard on and off the field to restore his relationship with the selectors, and his change of attitude has been noted," said Edgar. "He understands the trust that has been placed in him."
The 23-year-old has played 18 tests, most memorably taking nine for 60 in the seven-run win over Australia in Hobart in late 2011.
- By David Leggat of the New Zealand Herald
