New Zealand to play one-day series in Pakistan

Pakistan officials expressed their delight today after the New Zealand board agreed to play a one-day tournament in Pakistan during Ramadan this winter.

The five-match series is scheduled for November, and will replace the Karachi Test of last May, which was called off after a bomb went off near the New Zealand team hotel. Pakistan has been unable to host any home series since the September 11 tragedy in America and the ensuing conflict in Afghanistan, with most international tours being shifted to neutral venues. The Australian series had to be shifted to Sri Lanka and Sharjah after the Aussies expressed concerns about security. And earlier in the year, the West Indian tour was also moved to Sharjah. These changes meant the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was unable to benefit financially through sponsorships, and the avid cricket fans in Pakistan were also deprived from watching cricket at home.

Rameez Raja, the PCB's chief executive, was naturally pleased by New Zealand's decision. "We are delighted with the news because it will open doors for international teams to resume tours to Pakistan more regularly. We are already hosting Bangladesh and South Africa between August and October, but the tour by New Zealand will be significant as they were the last team to come to Pakistan before their tour was curtailed because of reasons beyond PCB's control."

This came after Martin Snedden, the chief executive of New Zealand Cricket, had written a letter agreeing to a visit to Pakistan immediately after the end of their tour of India.

New Zealand's acceptance of this five-match series will allow Pakistan to host six Tests and 13 one-day internationals between August and November. Bangladesh are due to play a full series of three Tests and five ODIs in August, and they will be followed by South Africa, who will be playing the same number of Tests and ODIs.

However, all local fans are still focused on how soon India-Pakistan cricket will resume in the wake of some positive signs of easing tensions. There is talk of a short one-day series to be hosted in both countries later this year, followed by a full series early in 2004.