New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive Martin Snedden flew out for South Africa today confident a compromise would be reached to move the Blacks Caps’ World Cup match against Kenya from Nairobi.
He suggested the match against the Kenyans, who pleaded with New Zealand again today to play in the country as scheduled on February 21, be shifted to South Africa or that one of the countries who voted for the game to go ahead transfer its match against Kenya to that country, swapping with New Zealand.
Snedden told Radio Sport the International Cricket Council (ICC) would be extremely hard-pressed to say that New Zealand didn’t have some grounds to be concerned about the safety of its players in Nairobi.
He said he would be speaking with ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed when he reached South Africa.
There has been no involvement by the New Zealand government in the matter and certainly no talk of the government helping to compensate NZC as a consequence of the Black Caps not playing Kenya.
The Blacks Caps are bound to forfeit points as well as facing a possible fine of up to $3-million.
The Australian government has said it would compensate the Australian team if they didn’t play in Zimbabwe for security reasons.
Snedden was unmoved by pleas from Kenyan cricket authorities, who pointed out that the country would host a round of the European Golf Tour, a major volleyball tournament and an international aid conference in the next few weeks.
”I’m not looking at other events. I’m relying on information provided by security experts on the ground in Kenya, ” Snedden said.
He said he was also aware of a South African police security report that was hastily made when it was realised there was a potential issue with New Zealand’s stance.
This was provided in confidence to NZC, and NZC’s security expert, Reg Dickason, provided his thoughts on the police report.
Snedden said the report could not be released because it was confidential. Snedden said the Kenyans were required to put in place a security plan but when it was checked the plan didn’t exist.
”We don’t have the ability to judge (security), we rely on experts,” he said. ”The security and safety of players is our priority.” – Sapa-NZPA
More cricket in our Cricket World Cup special report.