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Head of the New Zealand Players Association Heath Mills has warned that there will be several high-profile defections from the Champions Trophy - and they will include New Zealanders.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan met with the players on Friday to update them on security progress and, presumably, to assuage fears about the three one-day internationals scheduled in Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy in September.
Daniel Vettori yesterday said there was little further progress made in terms of players stating whether they wanted to miss the trip or not.
"We're sitting tight and waiting for those security reports," Vettori told reporters. "After the Asia Cup is completed then we'll find out a lot more about it. [Vaughan] asked us to wait for those reports before we made any decisions.
"Once this tour ends I think guys will be very interested in what's going on and able to make some decisions, hopefully based on security reports not just something that's irrational."
Australian, English and New Zealand players have made public their anxieties about touring the country. Australia and England fear being targeted for terrorist activities due to their respective governments' stance over the invasion of Iraq, while New Zealand's 2003 tour to Pakistan was ended when a suicide bomber detonated near the players' hotel.
"I have no doubt that if the tournament takes place in Pakistan a number of players will pull out. That includes New Zealanders," Mills said.
Last week Zakir Khan, Pakistan Cricket Board's director of cricket operations, appeared to make light of the players' concerns.
"We've been hearing through the media that there may be concerns among some of the players about the Champions Trophy, but we are not taking any of it seriously unless there is an official confirmation from the boards of those countries," he told the Karachi-based News.
"I don't think there is a need for any security consultant from Australia to come here," he said in reference to Reg Dickason, who consults several cricket boards, including New Zealand Cricket.
"The ICC [security] officials are already here and monitoring the situation. I believe that should be enough," Khan said.
Mills was unimpressed with that line of thinking, saying that he hoped the players' concerns would be taken seriously.
"Whether you agree with it or not we have players who are genuinely concerned about touring Pakistan. NZC has a legal requirement to ensure our players are operating in a safe workplace and I am sure that will be the same for Australia, South Africa and England. We would hope that the ICC and other boards respect this situation for what it is."
Mills said it was in nobody's interest to penalise Pakistan Cricket Board for events that are largely outside their control but it was imperative for everybody to feel everything was being done to ensure a trouble-free tournament.
