New Zealand Cricket yet to receive tri-series invitation

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden has had preliminary discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board about the possibility of the TelstraClear Black Caps playing in a tri-series with Pakistan and Australia.

The series would be played just prior to the ICC Champions Trophy, which is taking place in Sri Lanka in late September this year.

Snedden said that he had a brief informal discussion about the possibility of playing a tri-series at a neutral venue with the chief executive of Pakistan Cricket, Brigadier Munawar Rana, at the ICC General Meeting in London last month.

However, Snedden gave no assurances that any proposal by Pakistan Cricket would be accepted.

"I have heard reports in the media today suggesting Nairobi as a likely venue and announcing a schedule for the tri-series," said Snedden.

"The fact is that I have had no communication with Pakistan Cricket since I spoke briefly with Brigadier Munawar Rana at the ICC meeting last month.

"At the moment we are considering how we can best prepare the TelstraClear Black Caps for the ICC knockout tournament.

"One possibility might be sending the TelstraClear Black Caps to Australia to play a tri-series in Cairns with two or three Australian state teams.

"Another possibility might be a tri-series with Australia and Pakistan but, until I receive some sort of formal proposal from Pakistan Cricket, it is difficult to assess the likelihood of this."