Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand, World Cup preparations
Pakistan’s cricket team is to tour the Black Caps by the end of this year. The series was supposed to have three Tests, but due to the upcoming World Cup 2011 the tour has been shortened. Both international teams have mutually come to the conclusion of 2 tests, with 6 one-day international’s (ODI)’s and 3 T20 international matches, as the 50-over World Cup begins in February-March 2011.
New Zealand Cricket Board (NZC) Chief Executive, Justin Vaughan, says, “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 series will start on Boxing Day with the first T20 match. The first Test match will start by the 7th of January and later the ODIs will commence from the 22nd of the same month. All matches are to be played at international grounds namely http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wellington-c864 (Basin & Wastpac), Queenstown, and Napier.
The teams will be meeting after the last tour of Pakistan to New Zealand in 2009-10, which was played as a “home series”. The teams played out a closely fought 3-test series, which resulted in a 1-1 draw. The Black Caps were supposed to tour Pakistan as well, but since the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) themselves scheduled their home series in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754.
The recent floods which have devastated Pakistan over the last month have caused more than a one thousand deaths and millions to be displaced. The PCB is trying to do its bit, by arranging exhibition matches at neutral venues for raising money for the flood victims. International Cricket Board (ICC) and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has also shown clear intentions to help and contribute. Several boards, including NZC have agreed to the idea of an exhibition match between Pakistani Cricket team and ICC World XI, with a request for the venue of the match to be neutral.
The ICC is trying its utmost to revive international cricket in Pakistan since the attack on the Lankan tigers in 2009. But it seems Pakistan will only host international cricket when the security situation is safe. Pakistani cricket has lost over US$ 17 million from not hosting international events. Pakistan lost hosting privileges for eleven World Cup matches, which have now been moved to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758.
While, the national sides of Pakistan and English have donated a percentage of their match fee for the relief of the flood victims. PCB has already donated approximately US$ 130,000. ODI captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482, and Aleem Dar, the elite panel umpire, have also helped with relief efforts and raising money. Former Pakistani captain Imran Khan has also started a fund-raising campaign.
The NZC on Monday denied agreeing to send their players for the exhibition match in Pakistan. As http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755. To clear things up, Vaughan stated in a press release, “At no point did we offer that the Black Caps would be touring as they certainly won't be playing there this year”. Maybe the PCB’s media manager could not understand NZC’s e-mail in retro respect.
However, the two cricketing nations will make history on Boxing Day as Pakistan will have their home series on foreign land. Another exciting encounter between the two sides is expected. Pakistan’s team hopes to provide some joy to the people deprived of cricket at home The ICC and ECB hope to be able to revive cricket in Pakistan, so that the millions affected and displaced by the floods have something to look forward to in the coming future.
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