Pak to play three 'home' Tests in New Zealand

Wellington, July 7 (ANI): Pakistan will play three 'home' Test matches against New Zealand in New Zealand during a series scheduled to be held in November and December.

Both teams will also feature in a four match one-day series and two Twenty20 games to be played in the United Arab Emirates in October.

Announcing the series, the New Zealand Cricket's Chief Executive Justin Vaughan said the dates and venues of both the series would be announced later.

"All the way through our discussions with Pakistan, our preferred option has been to play the one-day matches at a neutral venue and the test series in New Zealand," said Vaughan.

All profits from the tests and one-day matches, including broadcasting revenues, would go to Pakistan to compensate for the loss, as the Kiwis were scheduled to visit Pakistan at the end of the year.

However, it was highly unlikely that the Kiwis would have visited Pakistan amid the precarious security conditions.

Vaughan said it was difficult to find suitable dates for the Pakistan matches, as New Zealand's schedule for the 2009-2010 season already includes home series against Bangladesh and Australia.

Commenting on the adverse weather conditions which prevail in November, December in New Zealand, he said authorities are aware of it and have already worked out a strategy to counter it.

"We need to be mindful of the weather, but the tests won't be starting that early. But the weather here in December can be fickle so we probably need to be mindful of that," The Dawn quoted Vaughan, as saying. (ANI)