Karachi – The Pakistan Cricket Board announced Monday that New Zealand will tour Pakistan twice beginning in late December, more than a year after canceling a series there due to security concerns.
In September of last year, Pakistani officials were enraged when New Zealand abruptly canceled their first visit of the country in over two decades, mere minutes before the first one-day international in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan’s efforts to reintroduce international cricket in the country after it was halted following terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan squad in 2009 led to Australia and England visiting in recent months.
“New Zealand is one of the top-performing teams and will allow our young fans to continue to watch and follow their favorite players,” said Zakir Khan, director of international cricket for the Pakistan Cricket Board.
This month, England concluded their first visit of Pakistan in seventeen years, playing seven Twenty20 internationals. In December, they will return to play three Tests.
New Zealand will play two Tests and three ODIs from December 27 to January 15, followed by five Twenty20 Internationals and five One-Day Internationals in April-May.
“The recent tours from Australia and England have left us in no doubt about the strength of the Pakistan squad across all forms and the magnitude of the challenge that awaits us,” said David White, the chief executive of New Zealand Cricket.
New Zealand expeditions to Pakistan:
27-31 Dec – 1st Test, Karachi
4-8 January – Second Test at Multan
11 Jan – 1st ODI, Karachi
13 Jan – 2nd ODI, Karachi
15 Jan – 3rd ODI, Karachi
Third leg:
13 April – 1st Twenty20 International, Karachi
15 April – Second Twenty20 International in Karachi
16 April – Third Twenty20 International, Karachi
19 April, Fourth Twenty20 International, Karachi
April 23 – Fifth T20I at Lahore
April 26: 1st ODI, Lahore
April 28 – 2nd ODI, Lahore
1 May – 3rd ODI, Rawalpindi
4 May – 4th ODI, Rawalpindi
7 May – Fifth One-Day International, Rawalpindi
AFP