New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Tuesday (September 29) confirmed the schedule for 2020-21 home summer, featuring World Test Championship fixtures versus West Indies, Pakistan, ODI Super League games against Bangladesh and host of T20 internationals, including five with neighbours Australia.
The entire fixture-list has been impressively announced despite the uncertainty posed by COVID-19 outbreak, which is reflective of how well the New Zealand government has tackled the pandemic, giving NZC confidence to go ahead securing those matches in bio-secure arrangements.
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The only set of tourists to not have their assignment seeing the light of the day are the Sri Lankans, with the Aussies instead filling their slot between February 22 and March 7, a replacement NZC won't mind at all considering the boost to their financial coffers.
Amidst all that, however, the possibility of visiting arch-rivals sending their second-string squad has risen, as at the same time they are scheduled in the FTP to play Test championship fixtures in South Africa in February-March.
"Among other tours in the works, the New Zealand women's team will host England for a series in February and March, while negotiations for an Australian tour of New Zealand is ongoing," states a report in ESPNcricinfo.
The postponement of New Zealand men's own tour across the Tasman sea for three ODIs in January has also given NZC room to ensure the domestic T20 Super Smash can be played without any clash from international matches, enabling the presence of their most renowned cricketers in January and early February.
NZC chief executive David White expressed his delight over the developments.
"Hosting these tours is incredibly important to us for two reasons: international cricket brings in revenue that funds the entire game of cricket in New Zealand and, also, it's crucial that we look after the fans of the game and sport in general, especially during these difficult times," said White in a statement.
"We've worked very closely with Cricket Australia in what is, really, a unique set of circumstances - and we can't speak highly enough of their commitment to the global game. The same goes for the West Indies, Pakistan, Bangladesh and England - right across the board in cricket there's been a real spirit of cooperation," he added.
(Inputs from ESPNcricinfo)
