IPL 2021 Phase 2 – Pakistan Cricket Board’s big shocker to BCCI, schedules New Zealand series clashing with IPL – Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday announced the schedule for New Zealand Tour of Pakistan. The three ODI and five T20I match limited-overs tour will start on September 17 and the last match will be played on October 3. This comes as a big shock to the BCCI as the IPL 2021 Phase 2 is scheduled to kick start on September 19. With the schedule out, now it will be interesting to see how many New Zealand players can take part in the IPL 2021 Phase 2.
PCB confirms schedule of New Zealand’s first tour of Pakistan in 18 years.#PAKvNZ | #HarHaalMainCricket pic.twitter.com/dPlThiKuGT
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 5, 2021
However, New Zealand Cricket chief David White was quoted by GeoTV saying that “New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, James Neesham, and Lockie Ferguson will feature in the second phase of the IPL 2021 in the UAE” instead of the Pakistan series.
White has confirmed their availability, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders will be able to plan accordingly as some franchises had already expressed displeasure at BCCI’s lack of communication on the foreign players’ availability.
New Zealand Players in IPL 2021
Kane Williamson (SRH)
Adam Milne (MI)
Trent Boult (MI)
Mitchell Santner (CSK)
Lockie Ferguson (KKR)
Tim Seifert (KKR)
Finn Allen (RCB)
Kyle Jamieson (RCB)
Also Read: IPL 2021 Phase 2: Great News for KKR, Eoin Morgan confirms availability for IPL 2021
New Zealand tour of Pakistan 1st in 18 year
New Zealand will tour Pakistan for the first time in 18 years. New Zealand last toured Pakistan in 2003 for a five-match ODI series while the Kiwis last played a test match in Pakistan in 2002. International tours to Pakistan have been affected by concerns over player safety. In May 2002, New Zealand abandoned its test series in Pakistan after a suicide bomb attack outside their Karachi hotel. In 2009, the Sri Lanka national team´s bus was attacked near Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium will be the venue of the ODIs slated to take place on September 17, 19 and 21, while the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will stage the five T20Is from September 25 to October 3. While the Rawalpindi ODIs will count towards the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 qualification, third position on the ICC T20I Team Rankings will be up for grabs in Lahore.
The ICC World Test Championship winners will return to Pakistan next year to play Test matches. New Zealand will be the first side to visit Pakistan in what will be a bumper 2021-22 season for the local cricket fans and supporters.
Following New Zealand’s tour, England’s men and women sides will play white-ball matches in Pakistan before West Indies is expected to arrive in Karachi in December for three ODIs and three T20Is. Australia is scheduled to undertake a full tour in February/March 2022.
Pakistan Cricket Board Chief Executive Wasim Khan, in an official release said: “Series against a top-ranked side like New Zealand will be a perfect start to a mouth-watering and highly-exciting home season of red and white-ball cricket. The 2019 World Cup finalists, who are also the World Test champions and ranked third in T20Is, will draw tremendous attraction and interest from the local fans, and will reinforce Pakistan’s status as a safe and secure country.”
“I am pleased New Zealand Cricket has accepted our offer to play two additional Twenty20 Internationals. These will not only provide extra games to both the countries as part of their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup preparations, but will also allow New Zealand players to spend extra days in Pakistan, familiarise with our culture and enjoy our hospitality,” he added.
New Zealand last toured Pakistan in November 2003 when they played five ODIs. A year before, their last Test appearance in Pakistan was at the Gaddafi Stadium in May 2002, which is remembered for Inzamam-ul-Haq’s 329 and Shoaib Akhtar’s six for 11 in the first innings that set the platform for an innings and 324-run victory
New Zealand tour schedule:
ODIs at Rawalpindi: Sept. 17, Sept 19, Sept 21.
T20s at Lahore: Sept. 25, Sept. 26, Sept. 29, Oct. 1, Oct. 3.
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