NZ to meet Pakistan nine times in UAE

THE Black Caps will play three twenty20s, three ODIs and three tests against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates later this year, the first tour under new coach Gary Stead.

They will made the trip between Abu Dhabi and Dubai six times, as the two venues will share the tour matches.

New Zealand Cricket turned down a request from Pakistan Cricket to play the games in Pakistan.

The Pakistan board had suggested the New Zealanders play the T20 leg in Pakistan. Their last visit to Pakistan was in 2003, when they were flogged 50 in an ODI series. A year earlier a bomb blast near their hotel cut short their test visit.

Since the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by terrorists in Lahore in 2009, visits to Pakistan have been sporadic, short, heavily fortified engagements against a handful of teams — a total of nine T20s and three ODIs from 2015 until April, when the West Indies was in Karachi for three T20s.

New Zealand tour to play Pakistan in UAE.—

October 31, first T20I, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

November 2, second T20I, Dubai International Stadium

November 4, third T20I, Dubai International Stadium

November 7, first ODI, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

November 9, second ODI, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

November 11, third ODI, Dubai International Stadium

November 1620, first test, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

November 2428, second test, Dubai

International Stadium

December 37, third test, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi