Kiwi cricket chief says US Twenty20 trip should be viewed long-term

Wellington, May 29 (ANI): New Zealand Cricket's recent American Twenty20 venture should not be judged on its tepid start, but by events five years down the track, said its CEO Justin Vaughan.

New Zealand played two T20 matches against Sri Lanka in Lauderhill, Florida. It was the initial foray of a company whose ownership is split between NZC and United States of America Cricket Association.

Not only did the matches run at a loss, but they were low-scoring affairs marred by a pitch lacking in pace and bounce.

"The projected losses were being underwritten by a third party. So, we can go ahead and further develop a relationship with US cricket. It will take time. I think everyone understands you are not going to immediately transform the US into a cricket-mad nation, or excite the local sponsors and broadcasters," New Zealand Herald quoted Vaughan, as saying.

Until now, NZC's only income has come from ICC dividends and the revenue generated from cricket within New Zealand. Under the joint venture NZC potentially benefit from the IPL or Champions league being hosted in the US, or any type of international cricket, even if it doesn't involve New Zealand.

"From the ICC's perspective and a commercial perspective there would be a lot of enthusiasm for it, but it's probably a bridge too far," said Vaughan.

"ICC events beyond 2015, certainly that is something very much on the horizon," he added.

He further said: "We got reasonable crowds. Obviously they were mainly ex-pats but we got some Americans there," Vaughan said. "The players really enjoyed themselves and through word of mouth that will have a positive effect on the cricket community there. (ANI)