New Zealand set out on delayed Pakistan tour

New Zealand have selected three major centres for their April-May tour of Pakistan to play two Tests and three one-day internationals.

New Zealand said on Tuesday they would tour Pakistan from April 18 to May 13 with day-night one-dayers in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore, and Tests in Lahore and Karachi.

"They wanted to play at the major venues and we saw no harm in that. They wanted a slight modification to their itinerary that was also agreed to by us," said Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman Khalid Butt.

New Zealand confirmed the trip to replace an earlier tour cancelled due to security fears over the war in Afghanistan and tension between Pakistan and India.

"The confirmation has just come in today. We are delighted they have agreed to tour and accepted our security assurances," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director Brigadier Munawwar Rana told Reuters.

The New Zealand confirmation came after a visit by their team manager Jeff Crowe to Pakistan last week, during which he met PCB officials and received security assurances.

New Zealand postponed their tour of Pakistan, scheduled for September-October 2001, immediately after the September 11 attacks.

They returned home from Singapore from where they had been due to fly to Karachi to play three Tests and three one-day internationals.

Rana said the tour would allow Pakistan to recover revenue lost as a result of the cancellation.

On advice from Crowe and other sources, including professional security advisors, NZC chief executive Martin Snedden has given the go-ahead for the tour.

"It was always our intention to reschedule a tour to Pakistan if we could ascertain that the safety of our players was not in jeopardy and we could find time in our playing schedule to accommodate it," Snedden said in Auckland on Wednesday.

"I 'm delighted both of these criteria have been satisfied and I look forward to an exciting contest.

"I'm satisfied from the reports that I have received that appropriate arrangements have been put in place by the Pakistan Cricket Board to ensure player safety and comfort."

FIRST TEST

Pakistan on Wednesday play their first home Test since September 11 when they take on Sri Lanka in the Asian Test Championship final.

"We were sincerely hoping that the Sri Lankan team's visit would get rid of any fears any foreign team might have about touring Pakistan," said Rana.

"The New Zealand confirmation is a bonus for us at this stage. We were always confident that conditions in Pakistan were conducive for cricket despite the events in the region," he added.

Since September 11, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the West Indies all refused to tour due to security fears and the escalating border tensions with India.

New Zealand itinerary for Pakistan tour:

April 18 - arrive from Sharjah.

April 21 - 1st one-day international at Karachi.

April 24 - 2nd one-day international at Rawalpindi.

April 27 - 3rd one-day international at Lahore.

May 1-5 - 1st Test at Lahore

May 8-12 - 2nd Test at Karachi

Mail Cricket Editor