New Zealand Cricket has confirmed India’s tour to New Zealand next summer, scheduled under the Future Tour Programme (FTP), has been postponed.
NZC Chief Executive Martin Snedden said an agreement was reached between the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) and NZC towards the end of last year to postpone the tour as a result of a change to the start of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup.
“A decision was made by the ICC towards the end of 2004 to bring the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup forward by one month, to start the first week of March 2007 rather than the first week of April 2007 as originally scheduled.
“The flow on effect of this ICC decision was to leave insufficient time for the scheduled FTP tour of New Zealand by India to take place during the mid February to late March 2007 window originally provided for under the FTP playing programme.
“Following the ICC’s decision NZC and the BCCI discussed various rescheduling options before finally agreeing that the tour of three Tests and five ODIs should take place in December 2008.
“The BLACKCAPS' build-up for the 2007 World Cup will not be detrimentally affected.
"The BLACKCAPS are participating in the ICC Champions Trophy in India from late October to early November 2006 which will be followed by an inbound tour to New Zealand (by Bangladesh) from December 2006 to early January 2007.
"The BLACKCAPS will then participate in the VB Tri-series in Australia from mid January to mid February 2007, a series which will also involve England. This series is likely to be followed by the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy Series in New Zealand in the second half of February 2007.”
