Cricket: IPL security details boost confidence

New Zealand Cricket Players Association boss Heath Mills. Photo / Alan Gibson

The signs are improving that New Zealand's players will get a positive report ahead of taking part in this month's Indian Premier League.

Amid security fears in India, the players unions of New Zealand, England, South Africa and Australia have been urging the IPL to beef up their arrangements to a satisfactory level.

The league's officials have provided the union groups with security details and confirmation that it will be implemented at all venues.

It is not a done deal yet for the tournament which starts on March 12. Players have the final say, but take advice from their unions.

"This is a significant step forward," former Australian spinner Tim May, now head of the players international body Fica, said yesterday.

Five New Zealand players have contracts for the league.

Non-test pair Shane Bond and Jacob Oram are due to join their Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Superstars franchises after the ODI series against Australia ends on March 13.

Those with test commitments, national captain Dan Vettori, wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum and leading batsman Ross Taylor, won't join Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata and Bangalore Royal Challengers until next month.

Plenty of behind-the-scenes work has been going on to tighten security arrangements.

"Clearly progress is being made and things are improving, but not quite to the level you'd expect," Heath Mills, New Zealand Cricket Players' Association executive manager said yesterday.

"We're hopeful it will continue to improve leading into the event."

A status report requested by the unions has provided encouraging information, including downsizing the threat of action from a cell of the al Qaeda terrorist group.

May said the new information had given them greater confidence.

IPL boss Lalit Modi maintained the IPL have not changed their security plans - "I think it is more a case of the players now understanding them".