New Zealand seek world XI fixtures

New Zealand have asked if they can play a one-day series against a world team to plug the gap left after Sri Lanka's tour was postponed.

The Sri Lankans were due to play five one-day matches and two Tests in New Zealand but only one match was played before the tsunami disaster occurred.

New Zealand now have no matches before the first one-day international against Australia on February 19, prompting the New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden to appeal to the International Cricket Council for some interim games.

Snedden has already asked India if they would be interested in touring, and he has also approached the ICC over the possibility of a series against a world XI.

"We've formally applied to the ICC for permission and support," Snedden told the New Zealand Herald newspaper, "so that other Test-playing nations might be encouraged to release players for the event."