Cricket: NZ to host Pakistan for three tests

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan says the organisation will not profit from the new Pakistan tour schedule. Photo / AP

New Zealand will play three cricket tests against Pakistan at home next summer instead of touring that troubled country.

New Zealand were scheduled to visit Pakistan for three tests as well as four one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches.

However, security concerns have led to a compromise arrangement, whereby the tests will now be played in New Zealand starting in late November, while the one-dayers and Twenty20 games will take place in the United Arab Emirates in October.

In-bound tours to Pakistan are on hold after the International Cricket Council stripped Pakistan of its co-hosting rights for the 2011 World Cup in response to six members of the Sri Lankan team being wounded when gunmen attacked their team bus in Lahore in March.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive Justin Vaughan today said his organisation was not set to profit financially from the revised scheduling arrangements.

"Hosting a test series actually loses money and we don't own the broadcasting rights either. Pakistan still owns that," Vaughan told Radio Sport.

He said NZC would not suffer a financial loss on the series because Pakistan would cover the costs associated with New Zealand hosting the series.

Vaughan said venues for the tests had not been finalised.

"We need to be mindful of the weather, but the tests won't be starting that early (in the New Zealand summer).

"First-class cricket would have been going for a little while so we're not talking about a ridiculously early start for the series.

"But the weather here in December can be fickle so we probably need to be mindful of that."

New Zealand are also hosting tours by Bangladesh and Australia next summer.

NZC is looking to release a confirmed playing schedule for 2009-10 by the end of this month.

- NZPA