Pakistan's cricket tour to New Zealand will feature fewer Tests and more one-day internationals to help the teams prepare for February's start of the World Cup. The teams were to play three Tests but will now play two and have six one-day matches and three Twenty20 internationals after an agreement between the national bodies. The tour will start with Twenty20s on December 26, 28 and 30 at Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch.
The Test matches will be played at Hamilton from January 7-11 and Wellington from January 15-19. "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," Justin Vaughan, the New Zealand Cricket chief executive, told the Associated Press. Meanwhile, Peter Chingoka, the Zimbabwe Cricket chairman said yesterday that the African team were as keen as ever to support Pakistan's bid to bring cricket back to their trouble-stricken country.
He told Express Tribune: "We sent the offer following approval from all the players who also want to play a role in helping millions of people in Pakistan." * Agencies
