NZC had approved Emirates ODI series itinerary: PCB

Karachi:

The Pakistan Cricket Board on Friday said New Zealand had approved the proposed itinerary of next month's bilateral series between the two nations in the neutral venue of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

"We had sent them (New Zealand Cricket) the proposed itinerary for the series and New Zealand have 99 per cent approved the dates," PCB chief operating officer Wasim Bari said.

Pakistan is due to play four One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20 matches against New Zealand at the emirates after the Kiwis refused tour Pakistan earlier this year due to security reasons.

Problems had arisen over the scheduling of the matches in Abu Dhabi and Dubai because the Kiwi players wanted a break of two days between matches but the PCB was facing problems due of time constraints.

"New Zealand has accepted the schedule we have sent them. They have an issue with the timing of one match and that would also be sorted out in next few days," Bari said.

The former Test captain indicated that the PCB had proposed organising the series in a 12-day span due to time constraints.

"Basically Pakistan has scheduled the series in such a way that it starts and ends before the scheduled Test tour to New Zealand where the first Test is to began from November 24," a PCB source said.

The PCB had faced scheduling issues as immediately after the on-going Champions Trophy in South Africa, some of the leading New Zealand players will turn out in the lucrative Champions League in India from October 8 for their respective domestic and IPL teams.

Earlier this year, Pakistan was also forced to play its ODI series against Australia in Abu Dhabi and Dubai due to the security issues at home.