India-NZ agree on extra Test, second T20 tie added to the tour

New Delhi, Jan 15 (PTI) The Board of Control for Cricket
in India (BCCI) and its New Zealand counterpart Thursday
announced an extended itinerary for India's tour which besides
an additional Test, will also feature a second Twenty20
international match.

India will begin their tour with a Twenty20 match in
Christchurch on February 25 and will play a second T20 tie in
Wellington two days later.

The three Tests will be held after the one-dayers get
over. The first of the five ODIs will be held in Napier on
March 3 and the first Test will be played in Hamilton from
March 18-22.

India were originally supposed to play two Tests, five
one-dayers and a Twenty20 match but following the BCCI's
request, New Zealand Cricket agreed to accommodate Mahendra
Singh Dhoni's men for an additional Test which will be hosted
by Napier.

According to the new itinerary, India will now reach New
Zealand on February 20, eight days earlier than originally
scheduled and the tour will culminate on April 7.

Following the first ODI in Napier, the remaining
one-dayers will be played in Wellington (March 6),
Christchurch (March 8), Hamilton (March 11) and Auckland
(March 14).

Napier will host the second Test from March 26 to 30
while the third and final Test of the National Bank Series
will be held in Wellington from April 3-7.

BCCI secretary N Srinivasan thanked NZC for accepting to
its requests for an extended tour after the Indian government
refused to clear the team to visit Pakistan in the aftermath
of the Mumbai terror attacks.

"My thanks go to New Zealand Cricket for responding so
positively to our request for an extended Test series,"
Srinivasan said.

"There have been a number of issues for both Boards to
resolve to accommodate the new schedule and I am pleased we
have been able to work together to achieve a high quality
programme.

"To have such a strong mix of Tests, one-day
internationals and Twenty20s will be good for both teams, and
for cricket followers in India and New Zealand," he added.

India's call for an additional Test had also met with
approval from New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori and coach
Andy Moles, both of whom felt it would be good for the hosts.

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan shared a similar
opinion and said the opportunity for an extended tour by India
would be great for the game in New Zealand.

"India is probably the most exciting side in the world at
present packed full of superstar players, and the chance to
see six more days of high quality international competition
will be welcomed by all New Zealand cricket fans," Vaughan
said in a statement released by the BCCI.

"The tour will give our Black Caps team a great chance to
prove themselves against the world's best," Vaughan said.

NZC had to work hard to facilitate the changes but
Vaughan said it was worthwhile in the end.

"We have worked hard to keep as much of the schedule
intact – but the result is a tour where more fans will be able
to see more games in more places," Vaughan said.
The schedule:
February 25: First Twenty20 tie (Christchurch)
February 27: Second Twenty20 tie (Wellington)
March 3: First ODI (Napier)
March 6: Second ODI (Wellington)
March 8: Third ODI (Christchurch)
March 11: Fourth ODI (Hamilton)
March 14: Fifth ODI (Auckland)
March 18-22: First Test (Hamilton)
March 26-30: Second Test (Napier)
April 3– 7: Third Test (Wellington). PTI RSM
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