BLACKCAPS GAMES FOR HAWKE’S BAY
CENTRAL DISTRICTS is set to host the BLACKCAPS for two Twenty20 Internationals in the 2020/21 summer of cricket.
Pakistan (7PM Tuesday 22 December 2020) and Bangladesh (7PM Tuesday 23 March 2021) will both pay a visit to Napier for the games under lights at McLean Park as part of a packed international cricket schedule for the New Zealand home summer, announced today by NZC.
The West Indies, Pakistan, Australia and Bangladesh are all scheduled to play against the BLACKCAPS in New Zealand this season while our WHITE FERNS can also look forward to an exciting summer of international cricket, with England women confirmed to visit in February/March and discussions ongoing regarding a visit from Australia women (the WHITE FERNS schedules yet to be announced).
While the Government has so far granted approval to NZC for the first two incoming men’s teams, NZC chief executive David White is confident the other inbound tours will also receive the green light.
“I’m thrilled to be making this announcement today, given the uncertainty and difficulties over the past six or seven months [due to COVID-19],” White said.
“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the New Zealand Government for helping us navigate this complex process, as we do to our commercial partners, and especially Spark Sport and TVNZ, for their patience and understanding.
“Hosting these tours is incredibly important to us for two reasons: international cricket brings in revenue that funds the entire game of cricket in New Zealand and, also, it’s crucial that we look after the fans of the game, and sport in general, especially during these difficult times.”
Central Districts Cricket CEO Pete de Wet is likewise delighted not only for Hawke's Bay sports supporters, but for all New Zealand cricket fans with today's confirmations.
"International Cricket is vital for sustaining all levels of cricket below it," noted de Wet, "so I am pleased not only for our communities, but for all communities across New Zealand".
White said NZC was aware of the challenging circumstances in which many New Zealanders had found themselves in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis and would be cutting the price of a General Admission adult ticket by almost half, to acknowledge this.
“It might sound counter-intuitive to be lowering ticket prices at a time of great additional cost and expense to the game, but we think it’s the right thing to do”.
While no international side would be in New Zealand through the bulk of January and early February, White said Kiwis could still look forward to top cricket.“
One of the silver linings is that our Super Smash competition, which will be played in that window, will now be boosted by the presence of BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS.
“It’s going to be the best Super Smash yet, I’m confident of that.
”Head of Spark Sport, Jeff Latch said his organisation was delighted with the schedule and was looking forward to broadcasting all the WHITE FERNS and BLACKCAPS fixtures, and the vast majority of the Super Smash competition.
“We are incredibly excited to be in a position to let our customers know of the packed summer of cricket schedule on Spark Sport, with selected matches on TVNZ,” said Mr Latch.
“It has been a really collaborative approach to get to the position of announcing the fixtures and I believe in the lead-up to summer, New Zealand Cricket and Spark Sport are well positioned to pull off a fairly impressive line-up in a year that has thrown us many curve balls.
“Today should also be a timely reminder that the cricket will be coming to New Zealanders differently this year with Spark Sport streaming all matches.
“Fans who want to get amongst the action should start getting their streaming set-up sorted, and be match-fit by the time November 27 rolls around.
“I’d encourage them to visit help.sparksport.co.nz for self-help resources or to chat to our team; and not to leave it until the last minute to get sorted.”
TVNZ Director of Content Cate Slater said TVNZ was thrilled to be sharing men’s and women’s Super Smash matches weekly, along with BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS T20 international matches.“
It has been decades since cricket of this calibre was free-to-air on television in New Zealand and we know that New Zealanders will love this addition to our summer schedule.”
Join
CRICKET NATION
and be the first to hear about tickets going on sale
Article added: Tuesday 29 September 2020
