New Zealand are planning to submit a request to Australia for more first-class warm-up matches to be arranged when they tour later in the year. The New Zealanders are concerned that following the cancellation of their tour to Pakistan they will be short of match practice by the time the first Test against Australia begins on November 8.

The news seems to scupper any lingering hopes that the New Zealanders would arrange a shorter tour to Pakistan should the current political situation in the region ease.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden had already all but dismissed the suggestion of the mini-tour which had been put forward by the Pakistan Cricket Board. "It does seem highly unlikely," he said. "I don't see much merit in a truncated tour."

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