Off the field,Black Caps are all business

Despite their disappointing performances on field in recent months,the Black Caps are going about their business off field in right earnest.

After their practice session on the eve of the final One-day International here,the players,led by Ross Taylor,donned the role of ambassadors and met business heads and executives of companies that have business relations with New Zealand. This idea,implemented for the first time ahead of the Bangalore ODI,is that of Gavin Young,Consul General and Trade Commissioner of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise in India.

When the New Zealand team competes with India in cricket,the players also perform their roles as goodwill ambassadors and meet a select group of business people,who also have access to a closed practice session,which wouldnt normally happen because of security. This is a way to thank the business community for their trade with New Zealand. They have an informal meeting with the team,get to click pictures with them and also get autographs, Young said on the sidelines of the event.

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Trade between the two countries is at NZ$ 1billion and Young believes the goodwill of cricketers will help improve trade relations,along with a free-trade agreement to be inked in March. Crickets are goodwill ambassadors and the feedback from Bangalore has been so good and people love meeting them, he added.

Taylor was at his jovial best at the trade interaction. Hope you dont know all the secrets about my health, he told Niranjan Kumar Ramakrishnan,CEO of a New Zealand medical records company that has an Indian arm in Chennai.

During a similar interaction in Bangalore,skipper Daniel Vettori had highlighted how cricket between the two countries has been competitive over the years but the camaraderie off field between the players has remained.