Cricket: Four day-nighters likely for New Zealand at World Cup

Four day-nighters likely for New Zealand at World Cup. Photo / Photosport

New Zealand are tipped to play four of seven day-night internationals at next year's Cricket World Cup, more than any of the other nine competing nations.

The schedule has yet to be given final approval by the International Cricket Council, but a draft has been ticked off by the ICC's chief executives committee and is expected to be signed off overnight at a meeting in Kolkata.

The tournament will be a full round robin, the first time that format has been used since the 1992 tournament in New Zealand and Australia.

New Zealand will kick off against Sri Lanka in Cardiff on June 1 before the first of four day-nighters, against Bangladesh at the Oval.

They will play Afghanistan under lights at Taunt on next up with their other two night matches against the West Indies in Manchester on June 22 and against Australia at Lord's in their penultimate, and potentially crucial match on June 29. New Zealand are looking at two games in Manchester and the other seven at seven different venues.

Australia and Afghanistan each play three times at night but no one matches New Zealand's four. England, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have no night time activity.

The tournament will be spread over 10 cities and 11 venues — allowing for Lord's and the Oval in London — and the explosive India-Pakistan match will be at Old Trafford on June 16.

The semifinals are expected to be at Old Trafford and Edgbaston on July 9 and 11 with the final at Lord's on July 14.

For all that the 10-nation format was popular in 1992, the switch back to 10 has been roundly condemned for turning its back on developing nations.

With Afghanistan recently granted test status -- but yet to play one -- there are no non-test playing nations involved. Zimbabwe missed qualifying, as did Ireland — also recently handed test status.
The tournament, held in England for the first time since 1999, will start on May 30 when England play South Africa at the Oval.

New Zealand's schedule is expected to be:

June 1: v Sri Lanka, Cardiff

June 5: v Bangladesh, the Oval (d/n)

June 8: v Afghanistan, Taunt on (d/n)

June 13: v India, Trent Bridge

June 19: v South Africa, Edgbaston

June 22: v West Indies, Old Trafford (d/n)

June 26: v Pakistan, Edgbaston

June 29: v Australia, Lord's (d/n)

July 3: v England, Chester-le-Street