WELLINGTON: New Zealand will begin their home summer of cricket against the West Indies on November 27 at Eden Park in Auckland ahead of a two-match series against the same guests and Pakistan.
The Cricket Board said the New Zealand government had given the go-ahead for the tour of the West Indies and Pakistan and it was expected that white ball tours would also be sanctioned by Australia and Bangladesh in February and March.
“We are very grateful to the New Zealand Government for helping us navigate this complex process,” NDC chief executive David White said in a statement. “Hosting these tours is very important to us for two reasons: International Cricket brings order that funds the entire game of cricket in New Zealand and, more importantly, we are generally interested in the game and the fans of the game. Let’s take care. This is a difficult time. ”
After three Twenty20 internationals against the West Indies, New Zealand have played the first Test against them from December 3 at Sedan Park in Hamilton and the second at Wellington’s Basin Reserve from December 11.
The Black Caps will play three Twenty20 matches against Pakistan before their Test series, the first at Mount Monganui’s Bay Oval from December 26 and the second at Hegley Park Oval in Christchurch from January 3.
On their last Test tour of New Zealand in 2016, Pakistan lost both Tests, while in 2018, Pakistan won the T20 series 2-1 but faced Whitewash 5-0 in the ODI series. Was lying.
According to a PCB media release, the Pakistan team will leave Auckland for Lahore on November 23 to go through 14 different days in Christchurch, during which they will be banned from participating in a bio-safe bubble. Will be given. In any activity related to cricket.
The PCB further said that the Pakistan Shaheens team would visit New Zealand as part of player development and exposure.
Zakir Khan, PCB director of international cricket, said the New Zealand tour would give Pakistan a chance to improve their ICC Test championship scores.
“After this tour, the series at the ICC World Test Championship will be our biggest with the last series against South Africa at home. We are optimistic and committed to reach the top of the championship as we strive to be one of the top performing Test nations, ”Zakir said.
New Zealand’s White Ball tour of Australia in January was postponed last week, but Australia have been penalized for five Twenty20 internationals in New Zealand from February 22.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, will return to the scene of the Christchurch mosque massacre two years after the tragedy when they play a one-day international in Christchurch on March 17 and are likely to stay in the city on March 15, a gunman said. 51 Muslim worshipers were killed and 40 others were injured in two mosques.
No players were injured and the team returned home the day after the Test was canceled.
New Zealand is currently fourth in the Test Championship after India, England and Australia, and is seventh behind Pakistan in the West Indies.
White said the NZC was aware of the challenging situation, many people found themselves in the aftermath of the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis and would accept a reduction of up to 50 percent in ticket prices.
“It may be counterproductive to reduce ticket prices at extra cost and cost for the game, but we think it’s right to do so,” he said.
When the teams arrive in New Zealand, they will spend the required 14 days in a separate Christchurch where they will be able to train at the NZC’s high-performance center at Lincoln University.
With no international cricket in New Zealand in January and February, players will be left out of the ‘Super Smash’ domestic Twenty20 tournament.
Schedule, order of work:
West Indies tour:
November 27: First Twenty20 International (Auckland).
November 29: Second Twenty20 International (Mount Mongnui).
November 30: Third T20 International (Mount Mongnui).
December 3-7: First Test (Hamilton).
December 11-15: Second Test (Wellington).
Pakistan tour:
December 18: First Twenty20 International (Auckland).
December 20: Second Twenty20 International (Hamilton).
December 22: Third Twenty20 International (Napier).
December 26-30: First Test (Mount Maunganui).
January 3-7: Second Test (Christchurch).
Tour of Australia:
February 22: First Twenty20 International (Christchurch).
February 25: Second Twenty20 International (Dunedin).
March 3: 3rd Twenty20 International (Wellington).
March 5: Fourth Twenty20 International (Auckland).
March 7: Fifth Twenty20 International (Mount Mongnui).
Bangladesh tour:
March 13: First One Day International (Dunedin).
March 17: Second ODI (Christchurch).
March 20: 3rd ODI (Wellington).
March 23: First Twenty20 International (Napier).
March 26: Second Twenty20 International (Auckland).
March 28: Third Twenty20 International (Hamilton).
Published in Dawn, September 30, 2020
