Players worried about safety

2008-08-16 08:02

Wellington - New Zealand's top cricketers remain unconvinced by security assurances for next month's scheduled Champions Trophy in Pakistan as the International Cricket Council tries to head off a boycott.

New Zealand players met an ICC delegation and Pakistan's Australian coach Geoff Lawson, receiving an update on the current situation in Pakistan and on security arrangements made by tournament organisers.

New Zealand Players' Association head Heath Mills said: "Our guys listened patiently and asked some very pertinent questions, but I didn't get the impression that any of them were convinced about the safety of the situation."

Time was running out

The ICC was leading delegations to address players from New Zealand, Australia, England and South Africa about their concerns over the staging of the tournament in Pakistan.

ICC general manager Dave Richardson said on Friday that time was running out to make a decision on whether to hold the tournament as scheduled, move it to Sri Lanka, postpone it or call it off.

Mills told The Press newspaper that the political and security situation in Pakistan was changing daily and conditions had worsened since the task force visited the country earlier this week.

Pakistan declared safe

Australian consulate offices in Karachi and Lahore, venues for the tournament from September 12 to 28, were closed earlier this week because of security concerns.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan updated his board on the situation on Friday and said the board was working through "a process" on what stance to take on the tournament.

The ICC had declared Pakistan safe for players and pointed to the smooth running of the Asia Cup there last month.

- SAPA