Pak-NZ ODI series in Gulf runs into trouble

Karachi:

The planned one-day series between Pakistan and New Zealand in Abu Dhabi and Dubai next month has hit another roadblock with Daniel Vettori's men demanding that each match be followed by a two-day break.

The Pakistan Cricket Board on Saturday said it has sent a proposed itinerary for the series of four one-dayers and two Twenty20 matches to New Zealand Cricket, who want a two-day break between every match.

"The problem is that the New Zealand players want a two day gap between every match and this is not possible for us due to time constraints," PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt said.

Butt said such a schedule would difficult to work out as hotel reservations wouldn't be easy in the Dubai UAE at that time.

"Basically we have to complete the series in October at all costs so we are trying to work out matters with the New Zealand authorities," Butt said.

Pakistan has been forced to schedule the series in Abu Dhabi and Dubai after New Zealand refused to send their team to Pakistan for the scheduled tour this year because of security conditions in the country.

New Zealand will host the three tests of the series from November 24 and treat it as a 'home series' for Pakistan while the one-day rubber has been slated for UAE.