Saxton Oval given two internationals

The weather gods will hopefully be a little kinder to Nelson cricket fans this summer with Saxton Oval set to host the West Indies and Pakistan as part of New Zealand Cricket’s busy international programme.

The West Indies, Pakistan and England are all visiting New Zealand this summer, with England the headline act of a packed season, starting with a T20 triseries also including Australia on both sides of the Tasman from February 13-21, then five ODIs and two tests between February 25 and April 3.

Pakistan were scheduled to open last season’s tour to New Zealand with a three-day warm-up fixture against New Zealand A in Nelson, but rain intervened and the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

The sun was shining though when the Black Caps hosted Bangladesh in back-to-back one day internationals at Saxton Oval on December 29 and 31.

West Indies will meet the Black Caps in the first of three T20 matches at Nelson’s Saxton Oval on December 29 starting at 3pm.

Pakistan won’t play any tests, their itinerary instead restricted to five ODIs and three T20 matches. They’ll play the Black Caps in the second ODI at Saxton Oval on January 9 starting at 11am.

Nelson Cricket’s general manager David Leonard was excited at the prospect of Nelson hosting it’s first ever men’s international T20 fixture.

‘‘West Indies are an exciting team in that format and there’s a pretty good chance a lot of their superstars could be on that tour, so it could be amazing,’’ he said.