Cricket: Cricketers feeling the pinch

New Zealand Cricket is feeling the squeeze as rugby readies to launch extended Super 14 and Tri-Nations competitions in 2006.

"We would have preferred if they didn't expand the competition," NZC chief executive Martin Snedden said yesterday. "We already cope with the Super 12 overlapping two-thirds of our second international tour each season."

Earlier this year, NZC accepted a pay-off by the Crusaders franchise to move its one-day international against South Africa at Jade Stadium from Saturday to Tuesday to accommodate a Crusaders Super 12 match.

Dunedin will bear the brunt of the clashing commitments this summer, after Carisbrook was not made available for international cricket.

The major problem, according to Snedden, was the timing of the rugby draw. "If Sanzar could finalise its draw a bit earlier, we should be able to cope very well. But they don't seem able to do that. The Super 12 draw for 2005 is still not out."

Snedden may be faced with more tinkering with his programme once the Super 12 draw is published, but a bigger problem may arise in March when cricket no longer enjoys preferential treatment.

Snedden said he had been aware of a possible expansion of the rugby season, but had had no direct contact with the rugby union.

- NZPA