Kiwis to focus on ODIs before Cup

Sydney: New Zealand are to concentrate primarily on One-Day Internationals in the run-up to next year's World Cup, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said on Thursday.

The team will play only two home Tests against Sri Lanka in December, instead of the usual three, but will face the touring Asian side in five One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20 games.

"The amount of test cricket scheduled for the next 18 months is minimal," NZC chief executive Martin Snedden said in a statement.

"We believe it is more beneficial to concentrate on the one-day game as we lead into the World Cup and to prepare players for the Twenty20 World Cup."

New Zealand will also host Australia in three One-Day Internationals in February before the 2007 World Cup in West Indies starting in the following month.