Cricket: NZC plays long game with Miami jaunt

Accept an initial loss for potential long-term gain.

That's how New Zealand Cricket are viewing their deal with their American counterparts ahead of their three-game Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka in Lauderhill, north of Miami, next month.

Indian property development company, Pearls Infrastructure, is the naming rights sponsor for the matches, which will be for the Pearls Cup. The teams - the first test nations to play head-to-head in the US - head straight there once the Twenty20 world championship ends in the Caribbean on May 16.

It is the opening step in a strategic partnership agreed last November between the two cricket boards and NZC intend it to become an annual series between the national side and a variety of major cricket nations.

There is a substantial expatriate community from the Caribbean and Asian sub-continental nations in the region which NZC are hoping to tap into with USA Cricket. But they are realistic.

"The series will run at a loss," NZC chief Justin Vaughan said yesterday. "The US is a market that needs to grow to love and appreciate cricket before you can start really trying to run profitable events."

Moves are afoot to mitigate against losses with third party involvement.

New Zealand secured terms with the US board at least in part because it was the only one of the major players who followed through with their proposals when the Americans put out the feelers.

Other nations with plenty on their commitment plate didn't fancy getting involved in an operation which would be starting from scratch.

"We certainly spent quite a reasonable chunk of time and effort shaping our proposal in terms of outlining to USA Cricket how we believed the partnership could be mutually beneficial," Vaughan said.

"We view it as a much longer term strategic move and really believe if the US can get the game better developed and followed it can be a real benefit to us."

Confirmation of live television coverage is expected in the next few days.

Vaughan said the ground at Lauderhill holds about 20,000, is of a good standard but some of the off-field facilities need improvement. There are hopes that, providing enough publicity can be drummed up in the next four weeks, the crowds will come.

"In the long term it could be a really good deal for us.

"Of all the international teams we have the shortest playing season, so the ability to play games in the US in our winter months is really attractive."

USA Cricket chief executive Donald Lockerbie is excited by the prospect of the series.

"Cricket is already popular here but has lacked major media coverage. This inaugural series is the first step to reverse this situation."

Vaughan expects the entire New Zealand squad of 15 to travel to Florida.