New Zealand Cricket yesterday released its itinerary for the Black Caps. Dunedin has just one international match, a test against Sri Lanka from December 10-14.
Queenstown does not get an international game, although Sri Lanka will play a warm up match in the resort in early December.
There were hopes the University Oval would host an ODI, especially after a commitment of $1million by the Dunedin City Council to contribute to the cost of installing $2million lights at the venue.
Australia will tour in February and there was speculation the city would get a visit from the World Cup champion.
But Dunedin has missed out, the tests for the Australian tour going to Wellington and Christchurch and the one day internationals to Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton.
Once the test series between Australia and New Zealand was reduced to two matches, a test in Dunedin looked unlikely.
Otago Cricket Association chief executive Mike Coggan said yesterday the reality was there had never been an ODI at the University Oval against a tier one nation.
''New Zealand Cricket is looking at the cost of hosting fixtures in particular areas. With an ODI here, then the most we can get is 3500 [spectators],'' he said.
''That is the feedback we are getting - to increase our capacity. That is a good thing, as it will give us plenty of motivation to do that.''
Tier one nations include England, Australia and India.
Mr Coggan said New Zealand Cricket, the Dunedin City Council and Otago Cricket Association were talking about future international matches.
''They [NZC] have told us once we get lights and get our capacity up to 6000, than we would be assured of getting games for X number of years.
''We have just been beavering away and I'm more than satisfied with a Sri Lankan test match. But it motivates us even more to get the embankment in place by next summer.''
The association wanted to have the embankment enlarged by next January and have the lights in place by about October next year.
A team led by former city councillor Colin Weatherall was working on the lighting and embankment projects.
