Cricket: Black Caps on standby for England if ball tampering wrangle not solved

New Zealand have told the England and Wales Cricket Board they are willing to step in should the stand-off with Pakistan take a turn for the worst.

The second half of Pakistan's tour of England, including the Twenty20 shootout on Tuesday and the subsequent five-match one-day series, remains in doubt after a ball tampering row erupted in the eventually forfeited fourth test.

A date for a disciplinary hearing into code of conduct charges against Pakistan skipper Inzamam ul-Haq is expected to be announced today, amid threats from the tourists they might still boycott the rest of the series.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden told the Herald yesterday that the ECB had been in contact regarding the Black Caps' availability and that he had tentatively agreed for the team to be put on standby.

"It would be a great shame if it came to that, but you can understand it from their point of view. They've got to have all eventualities covered and having a backup for a worst-case scenario is just one of them."

Almost half the likely New Zealand team are already in England plying their trade in domestic competitions, making it easier to assemble a squad at short notice if required.

Snedden also confirmed he'd given the ECB the okay to contact any New Zealand player over forming an International XI for Tuesday's Twenty20 match at the County Ground in Bristol.

Facing huge financial repercussions if the remainder of its programme is abandoned, the ECB has received permission from the ICC to approach leading world players in an effort to form an invitational side as cover for Pakistan.

Skipper Stephen Fleming, wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum, all-rounders Scott Styris and Andre Adams and batsman Hamish Marshall are the New Zealanders likely to cause most interest.

Pakistan have continued to express misgivings about recommencing the tour before the hearing is complete, prompting the ECB to release a statement that underlined, rather than downplayed, its concern over the series.

The hearing, initially set to be heard by the ICC's chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle today, was postponed because of a family illness, and from all accounts no other referee will be acceptable to all parties.