Cricket: Pakistanis coming back again in 2010

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Get used to the sight of Pakistan playing cricket in New Zealand; they'll be back again this time next year.

That visit was part of the Future Tours Programme, which runs until 2012.

The reason for the double up was Pakistan's inability to host international cricket in the wake of March's terror attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.

New Zealand Cricket did their part by offering to let Pakistan host the current series, but it derives no income from it.

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan acknowledged it was an odd situation.

"It is unusual," he said yesterday.

"We have played Pakistan a lot in the last few months but we've not overdosed with them in New Zealand. In one way it's not great timing, but we are looking forward to them because it is our only tour next season."

The World Cup, which starts in the sub-continent on February 19, has rubbed out the prospect of a second team coming to New Zealand.

Next year's visit will have a different shape to it. It will probably begin with a test series, followed by up to five ODIs, as it will be a final shakedown for both countries ahead of the World Cup.

Vaughan, who returned yesterday from a chief executives' meeting in Dubai, said work was being done to get more value into the next FTP, but it was unlikely to be formalised until the middle of next year.

A group of administrators, including Cricket Australia's James Sutherland and the International Cricket Council's general manager for cricket Dave Richardson, are studying a mix of possibilities to beef up the programme post 2012.

"They are looking at test and ODI championship models and how to make the FTP more meaningful. Although there is nothing solid, there is a resolve among the major boards and the ICC to make something happen - and I'd like to think sooner rather than later," Vaughan said.