Cricket: Security cranked up as chaos rules in Zimbabwe

New Zealand Cricket [NZC] has employed a Zimbabwean to monitor security arrangements as the troubled country descends into further turmoil.

At this stage it still appears tangible security risks to players will be the only grounds for the Black Caps not touring in August.

To that end NZC chief executive Martin Snedden said they had engaged Darren Maughan to oversee all security arrangements.

"The security is an ongoing situation. We've had a security officer appointed for a month now," Snedden said.

"He was used by Australia and England last year and was highly recommended by both of them. It's a constant monitoring process, there's no sort of deadline on it."

NZC is maintaining their policy on not commenting on any of the political aspects of touring and the Herald on Sunday understands not one player has voiced any concerns about touring the troubled country.

Over the past week Robert Mugabe has implemented an operation called Murambatsvina (Shona for Operation Drive Out Trash), bulldozing whole residential districts and suppressing street traders in Harare and other urban centres.

While there's been widespread condemnation of Mugabe's rule in the famine- and Aids-ravaged state, the cricket world has been reluctant to boycott the country.

According to Black Caps batsman Hamish Marshall, it has not even been a point of conversation among the players. "Not at all. We've just left it in NZC's hands. To be honest I don't think many of the lads have really thought about it," Marshall said when speaking to the paper recently.

"We'll wait to see what NZC says and go from there."

What NZC will likely say is that the Black Caps will tour - unless there are compelling security issues.

NZC controversially pulled out of a scheduled World Cup match in Kenya because of safety concerns, a move that almost cost it a place in the top six playoffs.

Given it gets the security green light, NZC does not actually have a decision to make. All test-playing countries bought into the International Cricket Council's 10-year plan that dictates future series.

Only the ICC or the Government can tell NZC not to go and the latter has stated it won't make that demand and the former has shown little inclination of supporting a boycott of Zimbabwe.

If NZC acted independently and refused to send a team, not only would they face a US$2m fine from the ICC, they would also face massive compensation claims from the Zimbabwe Cricket Union.

Included in the compensation could be the loss of earnings from the on-selling of television rights.

Given the tour includes a one-day tri-series with India, which has a massive TV audience, this could be crippling.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY