New Zealand Cricket chief Vaughan game for annual cricket series in US

AUCKLAND - New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive Justin Vaughan predicts that the Black Caps will play annually in Florida, as part of the new partnership between NZC and USA Cricket (USACA).

The comment comes after it was formally announced that New Zealand and Sri Lanka will play a three-match Twenty20 series in Florida next month at the Central Broward County Regional Park Cricket Stadium between May 20 and May 23.

“We’d like to think the Black Caps would play there annually,” Stuff.co.nz quoted Vaughan, as saying.

“Ideally we’ll go there to or from tours to the West Indies or on the way to England. They will always be short series. Possibly we’ll play Pakistan there,” he added.

Vaughan further said there are enough Asians and West Indians in the U.S. for cricket to get a following, and believes the facilities in Florida are up to international standard.

“I think it’s going to go well. It would be great if other countries followed our lead and played there,” Vaughan said.Quality-wise, the USA have still got a way to go with their cricket, but I’m sure in three to five years they would like to see themselves in a tri-series or something,” he added.

Earlier, USACA Chief Executive Donald Lockerbie had said that the series has the potential to help grow and develop the game in the U.S.

“We believe that in order to grow the game of cricket in the USA, we need to have the best teams in the world play in our country,” Lockerbie said.

“We want to demonstrate to the American public just how exciting the T20 format is. Cricket is already popular here but has lacked major media coverage. This inaugural series is the first step to reverse this situation,” he added. (ANI)