Pakistan will play four one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches against New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates next month, an official of the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Monday.
It will be Pakistan’s second one-day series at a neutral venue this year after earlier hosting Australia in the UAE.
Foreign teams have expressed security concerns over touring Pakistan -- especially after terrorists targeted the Sri Lankan team bus at Lahore on March 3 leaving six police officers and a van driver dead. Several Sri Lankan players and team officials were also injured.
ADVERTISEMENT
The PCB has been forced to explore organizing its share of international matches at neutral sites, with the UAE so far the favoured venue.
“Dubai will host two Twenty20 matches, while all the four ODIs against New Zealand will be staged at Abu Dhabi,” the PCB media manager Raza Rashid said.
The PCB chief Ijaz Butt returned to Pakistan on Sunday after finalizing all the details of the series with cricket authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Rashid said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Rashid said the itinerary of the matches will be announced shortly in consultation with New Zealand Cricket. Shortly after the series in UAE, Pakistan will tour New Zealand for three test matches.