Cricket teams arrive in town

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori  is greeted by Queenstown liaison manager Ian Paterson as the...
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...
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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