Cricket: Snedden plays down sabotage threat

New Zealand may need to play two spinners in their Champions Trophy showdown against Pakistan next week if the latest news from Mumbai is any guide.

Crackpot Indian political group Shiv Sena have threatened to sabotage any or all of Pakistan's tournament matches, including one against New Zealand, in retaliation for the Mumbai bombings in July.

The right-wing movement's usual modus operandi is to dig up the pitch, as it did in 1991 at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium to end an India-Pakistan match, and again in 1999 at Delhi's Ferozeshah Kotla, forcing a test to be rescheduled.

The Black Caps arrived in India yesterday to begin preparations for their opening match against South Africa at Mumbai, after which they'll square off against a qualifier on Friday week, and Pakistan at Mohali the following Wednesday.

Chief executive Martin Snedden yesterday dismissed any suggestion of the New Zealand team being in danger, saying security advisers in India had classified the Shiv Sena threat as minor.

"Our information is that the team is safe, that the implied threat is directed more at the venue than either of the teams, and that it's more than likely nothing will come of it.

"We'll naturally keep monitoring the situation but have no reason to doubt the judgment of our security experts."

Shiv Sena was founded on the principle of privilege for local Maharashtrians, but more recently has focused on special rights for the nation's Hindu.

They are extremely conservative and have caused outrage in India on many levels, particularly last year when the rape of a 16-year old girl prompted them to complain that "today's" women were asking for it.

Their opposition to Pakistan playing in India stems from the July slaying of 186 people in Mumbai, for which local police have blamed Pakistan-based Islamist group Lashkar e Toiba.

Pakistan cricket officials refused to comment but former skipper Rashid Latif said there was nothing new in the reports.

"They always do this before a series to get political mileage and publicity. It is nothing more than that," said Latif.

"The Indian people want to see us play and that is what is important."