Tourists to head to Northland

New Zealand Cricket today announced that Bellahomes Northland Cricket will host the National Bank Series three-day tour match between Pakistan and a New Zealand XI on January 2-4, 2011.

The match will be played at Cobham Oval in Whangarei. Cobham Oval has previously hosted international fixtures between the White Ferns and Australia, and is a popular venue for many of the Northern Knights domestic home games. The last time Northland Cricket hosted an international men’s game was 1994 when the West Indies toured New Zealand, played at the old Cobham Oval. The new Cobham Oval ground formed in 2003 has had a significant upgrade since then to align with international standards

The tour match will be the tourists’ only warm-up between the three-match Twenty20 international series which concludes on December 30 and the start of the Test series in Hamilton on January 7.

Northland Cricket CEO Gary Bell said Bellahomes Northland Cricket enjoys hosting international teams and said it is a positive thing for the region. “It’s been a long time since the last international men’s game,” Bell said. “It will be wonderful to host Pakistan and a New Zealand XI at Cobham Oval. We’ve had many quality games here, and we expect this one to be another excellent match.

“Not only is this game good exposure for Cobham Oval, but it is also very positive for the wider community to have another code bringing international teams to Northland. Cricket fans will be able to see some of the best cricketers in the world up close and I know the community will support this significant sporting event.”

Pakistan will also participate in a warm up game against Auckland at Colin Maiden Park in Auckland on December 23.