New Zealand to play six Tests, eight ODIs in 2009-10 season

October 11th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will be fit in time to get in contention for a place in the Test squad for the tour of New Zealand later this year after his knee surgery in London last week. Sources close to Akhtar told IANS Sunday that the pacer was treated by world famous knee specialist Andrew Williams in London and is now on a two-week rest after a successful surgery.

September 30th, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the event technical committee of the ICC Champions Trophy 2009 has approved a change in the New Zealand squad for the tournament. Iain O'Brien will replace Daryl Tuffey for the Black Caps after Tuffey was forced out of the squad due to an injury to his hand.

September 16th, 2009 KARACHI - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed hope that the drought of international tournaments for the national squad would soon be over with several foreign tours and multi nation events scheduled for the next few months. "The dry spell is finally over and that's a good sign for our cricket," PCB's Chief Operating Office (COO) Wasim Bari said, adding, "A lot of positive developments are taking place.

September 14th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ijaz Butt has said that he has had constructive talks with Emirates Cricket Board officials about holding a proposed ODI series against New Zealand there later this year. Butt, who is in London, said that he would officially announce the venues for the four One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 matches on Monday after returning home.

September 14th, 2009 KARACHI - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced Monday that it has struck a deal to host its one-day series against New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates(UAE) next month. Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, said Pakistan will play four One-day Internationals (ODI) against the Black Caps in Abu Dhabi and two Twenty20 games in Dubai.

September 8th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt will fly to Dubai Tuesday night to finalise venues for Pakistans home series against New Zealand later this year. Butt will meet Emirates cricket board officials to finalise venues for series that was moved from Pakistan to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) because of security apprehensions.

July 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram feels it is for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to preserve the sanctity of Test format. Akram said the ICC should go ahead with day-night Tests and must ensure that matches are played on sporting tracks to counter the popularity of Twenty20.

July 26th, 2009 WELLINGTON - Captain Daniel Vettori has said that New Zealand cricketers may not choose country over cash in the future if they are forced to chose between national team and the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL). "A lot of guys put a lot of thought into it.

July 11th, 2009 DUBAI - Rudi Koertzen of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires today made history when he became the first umpire to stand in 200 One-Day Internationals by umpiring in the second ODI between Ireland and Kenya in Dublin. Koertzen (60) made his international debut on December 9, 1992, in a match between South Africa and India in Port Elizabeth and since then has gone on to become one of the game's most respected officials, also standing in 99 Tests.

July 7th, 2009 WELLINGTON - Pakistan will play three 'home' Test matches against New Zealand in New Zealand during a series scheduled to be held in November and December. Both teams will also feature in a four match one-day series and two Twenty20 games to be played in the United Arab Emirates in October.

July 3rd, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan would host New Zealand for three Tests and five one-day internationals on a neutral venue, after all efforts by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to relocate the 'home' series against Kiwis to New Zealand failed. Sources said the PCB proposed hosting the series in New Zealand itself , but issues regarding television rights and sharing of revenues could not be sorted out with the New Zealand cricket officials The PCB is now considering hosting the series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), The News reports.

July 1st, 2009 MUMBAI - The Indian cricket board Wednesday finalised the seven venues for the one-day series against Australia in October-November. The Tour Programme and Fixtures Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that met here to decide the fixture of the 2009-10 season at the Cricket Centre decided that Guwahati, Mumbai, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mohali and Nagpur will be hosting the series from Oct 25 to Nov 11.

June 30th, 2009 St.JOHN'S - West Indies cricket selectors named an unchanged 13-member sqaud for the last two one-dayers against India. All-rounder Darren Sammy failed to find a place in the side while Jamaican all-rounder David Bernard Jr, who has played five Tests and 23 ODIs, was retained.

June 23rd, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh Tuesday named fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza as captain of the national team, replacing Mohammad Ashraful, for the cricket tours of West Indies and Zimbabwe. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said the move was aimed at relieving the burden on Ashraful and allow him to focus on his batting.

June 19th, 2009 WELLINGTON - Kiwi pacer Shane Bond is eying the New Zealand A tour to India in August to make his International comeback, as his exile from national team ends in that month. Bond was effectively banned from representing the national side when he joined the Indian Cricket League in 2007.