USA will see its first piece of international action when the New Zealand side plays Sri Lanka in three T20I games in May. This series will mark the first time two Test playing nations will feature in international matches in the country.

Earlier, the New Zealand cricket board got into a partnership with the USA Cricket Association and stuck this deal. The Kiwis are said to be contemplating touring USA on an annual basis.

The three games will be played in Lauderhill, Florida, on May 20, 22 and 23. The stadium is the only ICC-approved stadium in the USA and is about 30 miles from Miami.

The chief of the USACA, Don Lockerbie said that there was enough interest in the country for the game of cricket, but it has lacked media exposure so far. He added that this series could change the way the game is played in the country.

The New Zealand cricket board chief, Justin Vaughan seemed to echo with Lockerbie’s sentiments and said that they will look to help develop the game in the country at the grassroot level.

But even before that, the two teams will be locked in a battle in the ICC World T20, and will take on each other in the first round of the competition. Sri Lanka and New Zealand are both placed in Group B of the tournament.

Sri Lanka go in at 8/11 (Sporting Bet) to win the group, as compared to New Zealand (13/8 at 888Sport). Bwin offers 20/1 for the third side in their group to come out on top; Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe had missed out on playing in the previous edition of the tournament because of the snapping of political ties between Zimbabwe and the host country, England.