The latest match-fixing allegations aren't proving a distraction for the Black Caps as they head to Dubai and their first international matchplay for seven months.
The Black Caps flew out from Auckland last night for a series against Pakistan involving three Twenty20 games, three one dayers and three tests.
Earlier this week an Al Jazeera television documentary claimed match-fixing in 15 international games, including the test between New Zealand and Australia at Hobart in 2011 which the Black Caps won but gave no details.
Several members of current squad played in that match but new coach Gary Stead says the latest allegations aren't a distraction.
Black Caps captain Kane Williamson with batting coach Craig McMillan and new head coach Gary Stead. Photo: Photosport
"No they're not (a distraction) at all. I mean it's something that we know little about and outside our control ... and it's really hard to make comment on it when we have no detail," he said.
The Black Caps last match was a drawn test against England in March while Stead has only been in the role for two months having replaced Mike Hesson who stood down from the job in June after six years at the helm.
Stead said his focus has been on getting to know the players in the time so far.
"It's been about relationship buildind and understanding the Black Caps environment and in places it will be about putting my spin on things as well so I've had a lot of conversations with people trying to understand how they operate," Stead said.
New Black Caps coach Gary Stead getting to know the team environment has been a focus for him in the first two months of his new role. Photo: Photosport
On arrival in Dubai, Stead is keen to get a look at the Pakistan opposition who are currently playing a T20 series against Australia.
"We've got the Australia-Pakistan series to lean on and analyse and see what has worked well and what hasn't and work out what the likely plan of attack Pakistan will have against us."
The last time New Zealand played Pakistan in the UAE was in 2014 with the three test series shared at one all, with one draw.
They won the five match one day series 3-2 and shared the two match T20 series one game apiece.
- RNZ
