New Zealand Cricket CEO Martin Snedden has defended the decision not to seek international status for the Black Caps fundraising cricket matches against a World XI.

"I've got a firm view that ODI (one-day internationals) status should only apply to matches that are between two countries," Snedden said.

"If you look at the rules of international competition by definition, an official international is a match between two countries and I think that is the same for most sports.

"It was not a matter of really having to make a decision because it was not a match between two countries."

Under Snedden's criteria the recent tsunami relief match played in Melbourne between an Asian XI and Rest of World outfit would not have gained international status.

"That was an ICC (international cricket) decision to award that status," Snedden said.

"We weren't part of that process so I'm not sure what their thinking was there."

The mini-series starts in Christchurch on Saturday followed by matches in Wellington on Monday and Hamilton next Wednesday.

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