Max cricket still has a role to play in New Zealand's cricket structure.

That's the view of New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden, who made the comment when releasing the international itinerary for next summer today.

India's tour opener will be a Max international at a venue still to be decided.

A pre-season Max event would also be part of the domestic programme when it is announced, he said.

International cricket was still assessing a third level of the game to fit with modern lifestyles.

"We need a short version which can be watched in a short period of time.

"There is a market for it, the ratings are good. The value of the game is not necessarily at first-class level or international level. It is at the participation level," Snedden said.

It wasn't traditional cricket but it was part of a wider range of the cricket product.

"Different people have different tastes and different time spans to watch cricket," he said.

© CricInfo