Pakistan's tour of NZ includes six ODIs

Pakistan will tour New Zealand at the end of the year for a series of two Tests, six ODIs and three Twenty20 internationals, New Zealand Cricket has announced. The original plan was to have three Tests, but the boards agreed to reduce it to two and fit in more limited-overs games for the sake of preparing for the 50-over World Cup to follow in February-March.

"We have agreed to move from three Tests to two to allow the addition of another ODI and three Twenty20 internationals, which makes sense for both teams in the final weeks before the World Cup commences," NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said. "The mix of games also makes it easier to fit into what is a condensed window of international cricket this season.

"The shape of the international schedule allows the maximum opportunity for (New Zealand players') participation in the domestic Twenty20 competition and also to provide a real focus on Twenty20 during the period from early December to early January for both domestic and international cricket."

The tour commences on Boxing Day with the first of three Twenty20s. The Test series begins on January 7 with the first game at Seddon Park in Hamilton, and the second at the Basin Reserve in Wellington starting January 15. The teams will stay back in Wellington for the first of six ODIs, starting January 22, at the Westpac Stadium. The remaining matches will be shared out between the major international venues, with the exception of the University Oval in Dunedin.

Pakistan last toured New Zealand in 2009-10, which was actually their 'home series'. Due to the volatile security situation in Pakistan, the PCB had to schedule their home series in New Zealand itself. The teams played out a closely fought three-Test series, which ended in a 1-1 draw.