NZ seeks new Pakistan dates, extends Australia tour

New Zealand Cricket will seek to tour Pakistan next year after calling off a planned three-Test series due to security concerns relating to the attacks in America earlier this month.

Additional warm-up games in Australia have been organised to help replace the Pakistan games in the lead up to a scheduled three Test series versus Australia in November/December.

The cancelled Pakistan tour, which was due to start on September 16, might now take place next year prior to the ICC Knockout Tournament in September, NZ Cricket chief executive Martin Sneddon said in a statement on Friday.

"We have acknowledged that under the International Cricket Council future tours programme we are obliged to reschedule the Pakistan tour as soon as it is reasonably possible," he said.

NZ Cricket released a revised itinerary for its tour of Australia:

October
16-19 - v Queensland Second XI, Brisbane

21-23 - v ACT Invitation XI, Canberra

26-28 - v Queensland President's XI, Brisbane

31- 3 - v Queensland, Brisbane

November
8-12 - v Australia (first Test), Brisbane

16-19 - v South Australia, Adelaide

22-26 - v Australia (second Test), Hobart

30- 4 - v Australia (third Test), Perth

December
6 v Prime Minister's XI, Canberra

After the Australian Test series, New Zealand hosts Bangladesh for a two Test series, followed by a one day international tri-series with Australia and South Africa in Australia and a three Test home series versus England.

Mail Cricket Editor