New Zealand to host Pakistan Test series

Wellington:

New Zealand will host Pakistan for a three-Test series from late November after the Black Caps cancelled their tour to the troubled country over security fears.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said on Tuesday that the Test series would follow four one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches between the two countries in the United Arab Emirates.

New Zealand backed out of a planned full tour to Pakistan after gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March, killing eight Pakistanis and injuring seven members of the touring squad.

Vaughan told commercial radio the venues for the three Tests were yet to be decided, and New Zealand's variable weather in early summer had to be taken into account.

"First-class cricket would have been going for a little while, so we're not talking about a ridiculously early start for the series," Vaughan said.

"But the weather here in December can be fickle, so we probably need to be mindful of that."

Pakistan will cover the costs associated with New Zealand hosting the series, but will also retain the television rights for the series, he said.

New Zealand will also host tours by Bangladesh and Australia over the southern hemisphere summer.

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