New Zealand could take part in a tri-series with Pakistan and Australia in Pakistan in August this year.

New Zealand are already touring Pakistan for a Test and one-day series tour in April-May but NZC chief executive Martin Snedden has offered New Zealand to Pakistan for a pre-ICC Knockout tournament.

Pakistan are considering New Zealand's offer at the moment.

In return, New Zealand's tour in April-May may be reduced by one Test match with Snedden offering to catch-up the days missed with the one-day series in August-September, or before their scheduled tour of Sri Lanka in 2003.

The ICC Knockout has not been confirmed for Sri Lanka yet but it is anticipated the tournament will be played between September 13-30 this year.

"We would be going in cold to that tournament and we need some time somewhere in Asia," Snedden said.

The idea of a three-way tournament with Australia was possible because Australia are to tour Pakistan around that time.

No formal invitation to a tri-series has been sent to Australia yet and Pakistan Cricket Board officials are understood to be checking weather patterns in the region for August to see where such a tournament could be played.

Pakistan are to celebrate their Test cricket Golden Jubilee next summer and the tri-series is seen as a potentially key part of the celebrations.

© CricInfo