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New Zealand cut Tests, increase ODIs for Pakistan

WELLINGTON — Pakistan’s cricket tour of New Zealand will feature fewer Tests and more one-day matches to help the teams prepare for next year’s World Cup, according to the itinerary released Tuesday.

The number of Tests has been cut from three to two with the one-day schedule expanded to six games in addition to three Twenty20 matches.

“As part of our lead-in to the World Cup, we have agreed with the Pakistan Cricket Board to play more short-form cricket to prepare optimally,” New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said.

“We have agreed to move from three Tests to two to allow the addition of another ODI and three Twenty20 internationals, which makes sense for both teams in the final weeks before the World Cup commences.”

The 2011 Cricket World Cup, to be co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, runs from February 19 to April 2.

Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand will start in December with the Twenty20 internationals to be followed by the Tests and then the one-day series.

Pakistan tour schedule:

Twenty20 internationals

December 26 - at Eden Park, Auckland.

December 28 - at Seddon Park, Hamilton.

December 30 - at AMI Stadium, Christchurch.

Tests

January 7-11 - at Seddon Park, Hamilton.

January 15-19 - at the Basin Reserve, Wellington.

One-day internationals

January 22 - at Westpac Stadium, Wellington.

January 26 - at Queenstown Events Centre, Queenstown.

January 29 - at AMI Stadium, Christchurch.

February 1 - at McLean Park, Napier.

February 3 - at Seddon Park, Hamilton.

February 5 - at Eden Park, Auckland.