CRICKET - Southee in training for trip that may never be

Black Caps fast bowler Tim Southee is in a state of limbo with New Zealand's place in the ICC Champions Trophy now in question.
The Waiotira 19-year-old was on the receiving end of "strength and conditioning" training from Black Caps trainer Brian Stronach at Cobham Oval yesterday but he has no idea whether the session will pay off now or later.
A reluctance to attend the Pakistan tournament in September because of security concerns, particularly from the non-Asian playing countries, has jeopardised the future of the tournament.
"I don't really know if anyone in the squad has said they don't want to go and I'm not really sure what I can or can't say but I understand that sending a weakened side isn't really a possibility," he said.
"The story I'm hearing is that all of us will be going or none of us."
Southee, who was looking forward to the trip on his recent return from England, now has cause to be more reticent.
"I wouldn't want to go if they thought our health could be at risk, if it isn't and it's safe enough, I think they'll let us go," he said.
The team was supposed to be heading for camp in Christchurch on August 10 before leaving for Pakistan at the end of the month but the whole tour has now been called into question.
Player's associations from Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand have questioned the ICC's decision last week to confirm Pakistan as the venue for this year's tournament and some top players, like England's Kevin Pietersen, have said they don't want to go.
New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan said his organisation would be discussing the decision and its possible impact on player safety and security concerns with the New Zealand Cricket Players Association and the NZC Board.
Southee on the other hand will be left out of the loop until a decision is made, one way or the other, and has been left to concentrate on building up his "base strength".
Stronach said that because of Southee's relatively rapid elevation to the top level of cricket, he had yet to spend enough time working on strength-based training and still had plenty of work to do before they got to spending much time on more technical training.
It sounds like the training will be useful, even if the trip to Pakistan never eventuates.