Now they are after a global title.
That would complete the tour rather nicely.
They have been in tremendous form in Pakistan.
They won all three games during the tri-nations tournament.
The five-wicket win in the final was comprehensive.
Everybody found a way to contribute during the series which should serve as a reminder to the other seven teams in the ICC Champions Trophy just how dangerous they can be.
The tournament gets under way tonight. Pakistan are hosting the Black Caps in Karachi.
Typically, most attention is lavished on India, England and Australia.
The Black Caps tend to fly under the radar no matter how well they are travelling.
And they are in promising form.
Their preparation for the first Champions League tournament in eight years has been flawless.
Their latest outing was a warm-up against the vastly-improved Afghanistan. They had to work hard for a two-wicket win which should also stand them in good stead, Black Caps wicketkeeper Tom Latham suggested.
"Obviously [it was] pleasing to win the tri-series. I guess from a preparation point of view, it's been fantastic to be playing," he said
"We had three ODIs in these conditions. So, yeah, I guess we wanted to obviously come out on top and we've done that.
"But I think overall the preparation, getting used to conditions, has been a great step in the right direction for where we want to go throughout the next couple of weeks."
Afghanistan pushed the Black Caps hard.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz swatted 110 from 107 to help his side post 305 for nine.
Matt Henry (two for 37), Jacob Duffy (two for 49) and captain Mitchell Santner (two for 34) claimed the bulk of the wickets.
Devon Conway (66 off 67), Mark Chapman (47 off 55), Santner (33 off 35) and Glenn Phillips (46 off 35 retired) kept the target in range, and Daryl Mitchell (36 not out from 25) combined with Henry (31 not out off 23) in an unbroken stand of 74 for the ninth-wicket to clinch the win.
"I guess for everyone to have a bit of time in the middle has certainly been beneficial.
"And, yeah, guys have been ticking along really nicely.
"This tournament, it's short and sharp. You've got to be on, you know, play your best cricket from game one.
"So, hopefully, as I said, most guys have had some time in the middle and managed to contribute in a way."
The Black Caps did suffer a blow yesterday when fast bowler Lockie Ferguson was ruled out with injury.
Ferguson felt pain in his right foot after bowling in Sunday's warm-up match against Afghanistan and an initial medical assessment suggested the 31-year-old would not be fit to take part in the entire tournament, New Zealand Cricket said.
He has been replaced by Canterbury quick Kyle Jamieson who was to leave for Pakistan last night.
"Kyle brings plenty of pace and extra bounce which will suit the conditions here in Pakistan,'' Black Caps head coach Gary Stead said .
New Zealand won the tournament in October 2000.
