Pakistan will tour New Zealand for the second time in as many years to play a full-fledged series in December. This will be an away series after the previous series between the two teams in New Zealand was deemed to be a home-series for the Pakistani side.

The tour will begin on the Boxing Day with a three-game T20I series, which will be followed by a couple of Test matches and six ODIs. Earlier, there were three Test matches planned by the two boards, but given that the series immediately precedes the World Cup, the number of Test matches was reduced and an extra ODI was added.

In the previous series that was played between the two teams, the three Test matches had been shared 1-1. Mohammad Yousuf had been the captain of the Pakistan side.

Earlier, the New Zealand Cricket Board also rejected the suggestions that they will tour Pakistan in wake of the floods that ravaged the country. The chief executive of New Zealand cricket said that while they had sent a letter to the PCB saying that cricket had to play a part in the rebuilding process, they had no intention of touring the country till the security situation stabilises. Pakistan had lost the right to co-host the World Cup of 2011 after the security situation had deteriorated drastically in recent times.

Australia and India go into the World Cup as joint favourites. Coral offers 4/1 for an Australian win, whereas Sky Bet gives 4/1 if India goes on to win the tournament. Sri Lanka (6/1 at Bwin) is the third favourite to clinch the tournament, while Blue Square’s offer of 13/2 for England makes them joint-fourth with South Africa (13/1 at Totesport)