Cricket: Summer of cricket lacking tests

Pakistan will tour New Zealand for the second straight summer. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Pakistan's cricket tour of New Zealand this summer will feature just two tests and an expanded schedule of six one-day internationals and three Twenty20 contests.

The Pakistanis were due to play a three-match test series but officials from both countries have decided to reduce that to help their teams' preparations for the one-day World Cup starting in February in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The decision is in line with a change to New Zealand's tour schedule in Bangladesh in October when the one-day series has been expanded from three to five matches and the two tests rescheduled for April next year.

"As part of our lead-in to the World Cup, we have agreed with the Pakistan Cricket Board to play more short-form cricket to prepare optimally," New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said today.

"We have agreed to move from three tests to two to allow the addition of another ODI and three Twenty20 internationals, which makes sense for both teams in the final weeks before the World Cup commences.

"The mix of games also makes it easier to fit into what is a condensed window of international cricket this season," he said.

The tour starts with three Twenty20 internationals in the week between Christmas and New Year.

The two tests will then be played in Hamilton and Wellington in early January before the one-day series.

NZC will now work to finalise its domestic competitions schedule, and Vaughan said the shape of the home international seasons meant New Zealand representatives would be available for their domestic Twenty20 teams.

"The shape of the international schedule allows the maximum opportunity for Black Cap participation in the domestic Twenty20 competition and also to provide a real focus on Twenty20 during the period from early December to early January for both domestic and international cricket."


The series match schedule is:

Twenty20 Internationals
26 Dec 10 - New Zealand v Pakistan, Eden Park, Auckland
28 Dec 10 - New Zealand v Pakistan, Seddon Park, Hamilton
30 Dec 10 - New Zealand v Pakistan, AMI Stadium, Christchurch

Test matches
7-11 Jan 11 - New Zealand v Pakistan, Seddon Park, Hamilton
15-19 Jan 11 - New Zealand v Pakistan, Allied Nationwide Finance Basin Reserve, Wellington

One-Day Internationals
22 Jan 11 - New Zealand v Pakistan, Westpac Stadium, Wellington
26 Jan 11 - New Zealand v Pakistan, Queenstown Events Centre, Queenstown
29 Jan 11 - New Zealand v Pakistan, AMI Stadium, Christchurch
1 Feb 11 - New Zealand v Pakistan, McLean Park, Napier
3 Feb 11 - New Zealand v Pakistan, Seddon Park, Hamilton
5 Feb 11 - New Zealand v Pakistan, Eden Park, Auckland

- NZPA