New Zealand to host India in six-match LOI series in February ahead of Women's World Cup

ICC Women’s World Cup at home. The series consists of one T20I and five ODIs that will be played across three venues, New Zealand Cricket announced on Friday (November 12).

The tour will kick off on February 9 with the only T20I of the series at McLean Park in Napier followed by the first ODI at the same venue a couple of days later. The teams will then move south to Nelson for two more ODIs that will be played at Saxton Oval before the final two ODIs on February 22 and 24 at the John Davies Oval in Queenstown.

The series will provide Sophie Devine’s side an opportunity to finalise their plans and put their finishing touches on their preparation for the mega event.

The World Cup, originally scheduled for 2021 was inevitably postponed given the impact of Covid-19 both in New Zealand and around the rest of the world. However, the showpiece event is now on track to be played in March-April next year and will be the first time in 22 years that New Zealand is hosting a Women’s World Cup.

“It hasn’t been a straight-forward process and we’ve needed to work through a number of unexpected changes before finalising the arrangements,” NZC chief executive David White said. “Having said that, I’m delighted with the volume and quality of the international cricket to be played over the summer, particularly given the importance of, and the relevance connected to these games. The India series is a crucial part of the White Ferns’ World Cup preparations.”

For India too, who last played a series " rel="noopener noreferrer">against Australia in September-October, this is the only international series confirmed ahead of the World Cup.

Fixtures:

9 Feb: 1^st T20I, McLean Park, Napier

11 Feb: 1^st ODI, McLean Park, Napier

14 Feb: 2^nd ODI, Saxton Oval, Nelson

16 Feb: 3^rd ODI, Saxton Oval, Nelson

22 Feb: 4^th ODI, John Davies Oval, Queenstown

24 Feb: 5^th ODI, John Davies Oval, Queenstown