India-NZ agree on extra Test

The Board of Control for Cricket in India and its New Zealand counterpart today announced an extended itinerary for India`s tour which besides an additional Test, will also feature a second Twenty20 international match. India will begin their tour with a Twenty20 match in Christchurch on February 25 and will play a second T20 tie in Wellington two days later. The three Tests will be held after the one-dayers get over. The first of the five ODIs will be held in Napier on March 3 and the first Test will be played in Hamilton from March 18-22. India were originally supposed to play two Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 match but following the BCCI`s request, New Zealand Cricket agreed to accommodate Mahendra Singh Dhoni`s men for an additional Test which will be hosted by Napier. According to the new itinerary, India will now reach New Zealand on February 20, eight days earlier than originally scheduled and the tour will culminate on April 7. Following the first ODI in Napier, the remaining one-dayers will be played in Wellington (March 6), Christchurch (March 8), Hamilton (March 11) and Auckland (March 14). Napier will host the second Test from March 26 to 30 while the third and final Test of the National Bank Series will be held in Wellington from April 3-7. BCCI secretary N Srinivasan thanked NZC for accepting to its requests for an extended tour after the Indian Government refused to clear the team to visit Pakistan in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks.