Wellington (New Zealand), Sept 04: New Zealand 'A' team will play Sri Lanka 'A' in a home series of three matches in march of next year, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said today. The series will be played on the south island and will consist of three five-day "Tests" followed by a three-match one-day series.
New Zealand cricket says it is negotiating with other International Cricket Council member countries to establish an annual 'A' team playing programme, which will involve a mix of home and away tours. Before the Sri Lankans arrive, the Pakistan tour will open with three-day matches against Canterbury and Auckland starting on December 8 and 13 respectively. After their two-Test series against New Zealand before and after Christmas, the tourists will play a one-day match against Wellington on January 1 before the five-match one-day series.
South Africa begins with a one-day match against northern districts on February 12 before its six-match, one-day series against New Zealand. The visitors will play a yet-to-be-confirmed major association team in a three-day match on March 5 to prepare them for the three-match Test series. Bureau Report