Pakistan to tour New Zealand by year end

Pakistan will tour New Zealand at the end of the year for a series of two Tests, six ODIs and three Twenty20 internationals, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced on Tuesday. The Pakistanis were due to play a three-match test series but officials from both countries have decided to reduce that to help their teams preparations for the one-day World Cup starting in February in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The tour commences on Boxing Day with the first of three Twenty20s.The Test series begins on January 7 with the first game at Seddon Park in Hamilton, and the second at the Basin Reserve in Wellington starting January 15. The teams will stay back in Wellington for the first of six ODIs, starting January 22, at the Westpac Stadium. The remaining matches will be shared out between the major international venues, with the exception of the University Oval in Dunedin.