New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori is greeted by Queenstown
liaison manager Ian Paterson as the Black Caps arrive at
Queenstown Airport yesterday. Photos by James Beech.
About 4000 cricket fans are expected to gather for the
one-day international between New Zealand and Pakistan at the
Queenstown Events Centre on Wednesday.
Lakes Leisure events manager JD Marrable said figures from
Ticketek showed about 4000 tickets had been sold for the
one-day international.
"We've had good numbers. It's a really a good day to bring
the family down and enjoy some world-class cricket.
"We understand it's a midweek game, which is decided by New
Zealand cricket, but if we want more internationals in
Queenstown, we need the vibe and support of the community,"
he said.
Black Caps team members (from left) media manager Ellery
Tappin, fast bowler Hamish Bennett and batsman Martin
Guptill arrive at Queenstown Airport yesterday.
Both teams would practise at the events centre today and
tomorrow, Mr Marrable said.
"It's quite cool, really, because they usually come in on a
Tuesday and leave on a Thursday, but they've decided to fly
in earlier to practise, because they love Queenstown so
much," he said.
Rumours that the events centre would host South Africa or
England in a one-day international next year were so far
unconfirmed.
"The only reason we got the ODI this year is because it's
part of the ICC.
"Next year, England and South Africa are supposed to be
touring, and rumours are building on that.
"It would be great to have one of them here, but nothing's
confirmed," he said.
The second of six one-day matches in the National Bank ODI
series between New Zealand and Pakistan starts at 11am on
Wednesday.
The match will be the seventh one-day international to have
been played at the Queenstown Events Centre.
Squads:
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Hamish Bennett,
James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Jamie How, Brendon McCullum,
Nathan McCullum, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott
Styris, Ross Taylor (one to be omitted).
Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez,
Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad
Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal,
Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, Tanvir
Ahmed (five to be omitted).
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