"We certainly need finality pretty soon," NZC head of cricket Lindsay Crocker said last night.
"There's a range of options that potentially could flow but there's no conclusions yet."
Crocker confirmed NZC weren't happy with Ryder's rejection of an olive branch in the form of the North-South game.
"He felt as though he's had a lot of cricket lately," Crocker said of Ryder's reasons for sitting the Origin game out. "He felt his conditioning is not quite at a state where he wanted to play so many rapid-fire matches. It's not a decision we necessarily concurred with but it's his to make and we understand his reasons for doing so."
There's a sense NZC is giving Ryder - who slammed 136 in 57 balls against Ireland for Otago this week - every chance but already know the outcome.
NZC wants Ryder subscribing to the team first ethos which has been embedded into the squad before they consider a return.
His last ODI was against India early this year before he was dumped out of the squad, along with Doug Bracewell, for late night misbehaviour.
However, McCullum spelled out his concerns to the Herald this week.
"No one's bigger than the team," McCullum said. "This team only works if we're all on the same page. Even one weak link is enough to derail the whole thing.
"Is representing New Zealand the best thing for Jesse moving forward? I don't know. Does the environment need Jesse and the distractions that come with him?
"Ultimately I'd love to see Jesse be desperate to represent his country and for it not to be about Jesse but what the team needs."
McCullum admits he struggles to understand someone not being totally committed to representing his country. That may be the nub of the Ryder issue.
"Has he ever come out and said he's desperate to represent New Zealand? Do you want to play for New Zealand for yourself or because you want to be part of the team?
"It's a big difference," McCullum said.
McCullum is a fan of Ryder but the man who can think of nothing better than pulling on the silver fern is puzzled.
"I think I've got a very good relationship with him. I genuinely care for the guy.
"But there's some stuff I don't understand about this. This is your one opportunity to represent your country. It's supposed to be the best time of your life, playing international sport with your mates.
"I don't understand that you can't be totally committed to that. On his day Jesse is a very, very good cricketer. But there's probably 100 cricketers in this country who are desperate to represent New Zealand. I'd love Jesse to be one of them.
"But there's some non-negotiables which representing your country require. Doug has worked that out. Jesse? I'm not sure."
One thing: form isn't the point with Ryder.
"One thing we need to know is exactly his ambition and desire," Crocker said.
"Each individual is expected to put his team first in the way they play and prepare. Those principles are being explained to him."
If Ryder is not named to the UAE trip "it's getting reasonably unlikely" he would be considered for the World Cup, he added, "but it would be wrong to say that's definitive".
