New Zealand To Play 4-Nation Tourney In India (4 Feb 1997)

4 February 1997

NZ To Play Four-nation Tournament In India

WELLINGTON -- New Zealand will participate in a four-nation oneday cricket tournament in India in May, New Zealand Cricket chief executive Chris Doig confirmed yesterday.

The tournament is being played to mark the 50th anniversary of the partition between India and Pakistan.

India had originally hoped to have all nine test-playing nations involved in a tournament.

However, that is not possible because some countries are already committed to tours, among them Australia`s Ashes tour to England.

New Zealand will play three matches, against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and India with the top two teams after the round robin to contest the final.

The tournament will run from May 11 to 30, and instead of the standard 2.30pm (local time) start time, the day-night matches will begin in the late afternoon to try and counteract the extremely hot conditions at that time of the year.

NZC has not received details of the draw, or the venues, but is expecting to have the programme ironed out towards the end of February.

The tournament will stretch out the season for New Zealand`s top players.

After the current England tour, New Zealand will have two tests and three one-day internationals against Sri Lanka at home, which will run until late March.

Then there will be a five-week break before the two-and-a-half week trip to India. -- NZPA

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz)