New Zealand to resume international cricket with series against West Indies, Pakistan from November

New Zealand to resume international cricket with series against West Indies, Pakistan from November
New Zealand cricket team

After a gap of 7 months, international cricket will return to New Zealand with T20I and Test series against West Indies and Pakistan from next month, the cricket board of the country announced. New Zealand cricket announced its revised schedule for the 2020 home season. The season will start with start with 3 T20 internationals and 2 Tests against West Indies from November 27.

The three T20Is will be played in Auckland (Eden Park) and Tauranga (Bay Oval) on November 27, 29 and 30. The two tests will played in Hamilton (Seddon Park) and Wellington (Basin Reserve) from December 3. This series will be followed by three T20s and two tests against Pakistan followed by five T20s against Australia in February before three ODIs and three T20s against Bangladesh in March.

The first ODI at Dunedin on March 21 will be New Zealand’s first in more than a year. The New Zealand government has granted conditional approval to allow the West Indies and Pakistan series to go ahead.

Cricket returning in New Zealand post COVID19

“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the New Zealand government for helping us navigate this complex process. Hosting these tours is incredibly important to us for two reasons: international cricket brings in revenue that funds the entire game of cricket in New Zealand and, also, it’s crucial that we look after the fans of the game and sport in general, especially during these difficult times,” New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said.

All sports were halted in March this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New Zealand last played in March against Australia in a ODI series. The New Zealand team has been inactive ever since with the exception of those taking part in the Indian Premier League.

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