24 Feb 2010

NZ cricketers not yet satisfied with India security

11:50 am on 24 February 2010

The New Zealand Cricket Players' Association has reservations about the security plan in place for next month's Twenty20 tournament.

The security situation has worsened in India this month with a direct threat from an al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist group to the India Premier League (IPL), the hockey World Cup and this year's Commonwealth Games.

Player groups from around the world are putting together a list of concerns for the Federation for International Cricketers' Association (FICA) to hand to IPL organisers.

A security expert hired by player associations from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and England says safety cannot be guaranteed in India.

Chief executive Heath Mills, says at this stage, the organisation is not comfortable with its players travelling to India.

He says there is a quality security management plan on paper, but aspects of it don't have the buy-in of police jurisdictions or local authorities in India.

Australian Cricketers' Association boss Paul Marsh says his players' participation in the tournament is no certainty.

"There are some issues that have been raised, if the IPL can satisfy those issues then potentially the players will be in a position to go," Mr Marsh said, following a meeting of players and managers in Sydney on Tuesday.

The commissioner of the Indian Premier League, Lalit Modi, says the cricket tournament will not be moved out of India, despite security concerns.

The tournament begins on 12 March.