New Zealand set to approve inbound tours for home summer 2020/21

New Zealand Sports Minister Grant Robertson believes the country can successfully host international teams for their home summer.
Robertson has moved to rubber stamp inbound cricket tours by the end of September.
New Zealand Cricket plan to host 21 men’s internationals (four Tests, three ODIs and 14 T20Is) and two women’s series against Australia and England, throughout their summer.
New Zealand to rubber stamp home summer
The country put in a bid to host a rescheduled Rugby Championship, and despite losing out to Australia, Robertson feels that country is ready to host international sport.
To date, only England have staged any international cricket, but Sri Lanka could welcome Bangladesh in October and New Zealand plan to accommodate Pakistan in November.
Robertson confirmed that approval for the inbound tours should be achieved soon with immigration officials finalising details with sporting bodies.
“The discussions have been good and generally speaking they’ve been very comfortable with the various criteria and arrangements that we’ve been working on,” Robertson told Stuff.
“I’m not going to say it’s signed, sealed and delivered but the discussions have been positive, just as they have been with rugby as well.
“We did put a [Rugby Championship] bid in that I still think was credible and strong and those positive discussions we’ve had with rugby have been mirrored with the other sports. We feel we are ready to host international teams.”
Schedule TBC
NZC are unwilling to release their home season schedule until they have concrete approval for the internationals.
“We’re awaiting a decision from the Government and we don’t want to comment before we’ve received that,” NZC said in a statement.
New Zealand’s domestic first-class competition, the Plunket Shield is reportedly set to start on 19 October but won’t be confirmed until the international dates have been confirmed.
NZC Chief executive David White revealed their intention to host the West Indies, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Australia over a maximum of 37 days across four months.
The White Ferns get their season underway when they face world champions Australia at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field in front of restricted crowds between 26 September and 7 October, for three T20s and three ODIs.
The women’s team hope to welcome Australia and England for inbound tours that will include a T20I tri-series.
Latest
-
News
Ben Stokes dismisses Virat Kohli for a duck as England battle back against India
The hosts struggled to 80 for four at lunch, with a disciplined bowling display making matters difficult in Ahmedabad.
-
News
Temba Bavuma and Dean Elgar named Proteas captains
Temba Bavuma is set to lead the Proteas in the 2021 and 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cups as well as the ICC Men’s World Cup in 2023
-
News
Ben Stokes admits England came up well short with the bat again in India
The tourists were skittled for 205 after winning the toss.
-
News
India v England, day 1: England left to rue familiar failings
The tourists surprised many by selecting James Anderson as their only frontline seamer.
-
News
England’s batting woes in India continue on opening day of fourth Test
The tourists were skittled for 205 after winning the toss.
-
News
England batsmen in a spin again as India take control in Ahmedabad
The tourists could not take advantage of winning the toss on the most reliable surface since the series opener.
-
News
England on uneasy ground at tea in fourth Test
The fourth Test was delicately poised after two sessions.
-
News
Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes steady England after early losses
England unveiled a surprising team selection for the fourth Test.
-
News
Kieron Pollard hits six sixes in an over in West Indies’ T20 win over Sri Lanka
The Trinidadian shares the achievement with former India batsman Yuvraj Singh.