NZ decline Pak invite to ODI series

New Zealand has turned down an invitation to play in a triangular one-day tournament with Pakistan and Australia in Nairobi starting next month, a Pakistan cricket board (PCB) official said on Thursday.

The PCB was forced to shift the series, which had been intended as the centrepiece of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Pakistan attaining test status, from Pakistan to Kenya after Australia and New Zealand raised security concerns.

"New Zealand cricket chief executive Martin Snedden has informed us that they can't take part in the triangular series for various reasons," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director Chishty Mujahid told Reuters.

"However, Australia have given us a favourable response and will play in the triangular series. We are now considering two options after New Zealand's unavailability."

"The first option is to ask Australia to play a series of six to seven one-day internationals. The second is to include Kenya in place of New Zealand in the triangular series."

Mujahid said New Zealand had informed him that their team could not play in Kenya because of an already heavy international schedule.

The New Zealand team recently finished a tour of the West Indies after playing in Sharjah and Pakistan.

New Zealand were originally scheduled to tour Pakistan for a three-Test series last September, but the tour was put off after the September 11 attacks on the United States.

They toured Pakistan in April for the modified series of two tests, but returned home after playing just one match in Lahore because a bomb exploded outside their hotel in Karachi.

Disruptions to Pakistan's cricket schedule caused by tensions in the region have cost the PCB millions of dollars in lost revenue.

Mail Cricket Editor