Another New Zealand-Pakistan tournament next year

AUCKLAND - The New Zealand and Pakistan cricket teams would be playing against each other quite a few times, as the Pakistan team will be visiting again next year.

The reason for the double up is Pakistan’s inability to host international cricket in the wake of March’s terror attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore. The visit is also part of the Future Tours Programme (FTP), which runs until 2012 and

Speaking on the unusual situation New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan, said: “We have played Pakistan a lot in the last few months but, we’ve not overdosed with them in New Zealand. In one way it’s not great timing, but we are looking forward to them because it is our only tour next season.

Vaughan, who returned from a chief executives’ meeting in Dubai on Friday, said that work was being done to get more value into the next FTP, but it was unlikely to be formalised until the middle of next year.

“They are looking at test and ODI championship models and how to make the FTP more meaningful. Although there is nothing solid, there is a resolve among the major boards and the ICC to make something happen - and I’d like to think sooner rather than later,” the New Zealand Herald quoted Vaughan, as saying.

Next year’s scheduled tour will have a different shape to it, as it would probably begin with a test series, followed by up to five ODIs. (ANI)