Thaindian News

By Omar Khalid
Karachi, Sep 8 (IANS) Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt will fly to Dubai Tuesday night to finalise venues for Pakistan’s ‘home’ series against New Zealand later this year.

Butt will meet Emirates cricket board officials to finalise venues for series that was moved from Pakistan to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) because of security apprehensions.

Pakistan will play four one-day internationals and a twenty20 match against New Zealand at neutral venues after the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa.

For Pakistan, Dubai and Abu Dhabi - the two centres in UAE where its hosted the home series against Australia last May - are the first priority for the one-dayers against New Zealand.

“If we can’t host these matches in Abu Dhabi and Dubai then Malaysia is our next option,” the PCB chairman said on Tuesday.

“We have yet to finalize the dates for the series with cricket New Zealand but it will be held this year,” Butt told sports channel Geo Super.

Butt will also be meeting with the representatives of the Dubai Sports City to discuss the terms and conditions for the one-day series against the Kiwis.

Daniel Vettori’s men were supposed to tour Pakistan to play three Tests and five One Day Internationals in October-November this year but pulled out of the tour due to security concerns.

New Zealand will, however, host the three Tests from Nov 24 against Pakistan and treat it as a ‘home series’ for the PCB.