Christchurch (New Zealand), Feb. 25: Nathan McCullum will join younger brother Brendon on the field for the first time in New Zealand colours at home when the Black Caps meet India in tonight''s Twenty20 cricket international in Christchurch.

The Otago pair have played together at international level twice at the 2007 World Twenty20 Cup in South Africa and this month against Australia.

No spectators will be watching the match more intently than their Christchurch-based parents, Stu and Jan McCullum.

Wellington (New Zealand), Feb 25: New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan and New Zealand players boss Heath Mills have both welcomed the decision to postpone the Black Caps'' controversial tour of Zimbabwe, saying it will allow some "breathing space" to sort out the difficult situation in the African nation.

Amidst growing pressure from the New Zealand government, the New Zealand and Zimbabwe cricket associations confirmed this morning that the July tour would be postponed for a year until 2010.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key had voiced his concerns over the political unrest and deteriorating financial, health and social problems in Zimbabwe and even hinted that the Black Caps might be prevented from travelling there.

Christchurch (New Zealand), Feb. 25: The New Zealand cricket team stands to gain 25 million New Zealand dollars if it come off with a win against India in the cricket series which starts with a Twenty20 international at AMI Stadium tonight.

Apart from the two Twenty20 matches, both sides will compete in five one-day matches and three Tests, reports stuff. co. nz.

The money will mainly come from television revenue.

With the Future Tours Programme (FTP) schedule ending in 2012 and up for renegotiation it underlines the need for a creditable display.

India is well documented as the game''s powerhouse financially and of late its playing standards have lifted to match.

Wellington  - Indian students studying in New Zealand's southernmost city Invercargill have been targets of racial abuse and called terrorists by local people, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Four of those targeted are Sikh who wear turbans, which they said made some ignorant people confuse them with Arabs or Muslims, the Southland Times reported.

One victim, Jasdeep Singh, told the paper he had defied his religious principles and had a haircut to avoid wearing a turban because he feared for his safety.

"I haven't told my parents yet," he said. "They will be shocked and quite angry."

Wellington  - The New Zealand cricket team's scheduled tour of Zimbabwe in July has been postponed until next year, it was announced on Wednesday.

Justin Vaughan, chief executive of New Zealand Cricket, said he and his Zimbabwe counterpart, Ozias Bvute, had agreed to put off the tour for 11 months after a meeting of the International Cricket Council in Johannesburg.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said last week that his government did not want the national team, the Black Caps, to go to Zimbabwe.

Wellington  - The New Zealand stock market - the first in the world to open every day - bounced back from a five-year low on Wednesday following the recovery overnight on Wall Street.

The benchmark NZX-50 index, which fell below 2,500 on Tuesday for the first time since January 2004, gained 42 points to 2,530, a rise of 1.7 per cent, in morning trading.