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Last Updated: Tuesday, 18 November, 2003, 08:05 GMT
Kiwis confirm Pakistan tour
New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns
Chris Cairns may lead the team if Stephen Fleming is ruled out
New Zealand have decided to allow their tour to Pakistan to go ahead despite a threat to the team's safety.

The five-match one-day international series will now begin on 29 November, a week later than originally scheduled.

"We are satisfied with the security arrangements," said New Zealand chief executive Martin Snedden.

Four players - Lou Vincent, Ian Butler, Scott Styris and Craig McMillan - have already indicated, however, that they will not be making the trip.

The prospects of captain Stephen Fleming doing so appear brighter after initial reports from India, where the team has been playing in a triangular competition, suggested an abdominal muscle injury would put him out of the tour.

"I've come home because it is hard to get a diagnosis in India," he said.

"If it comes right in the next week I'll definitely be in the time frame for the tour."

The threat to the team was contained in an e-mail sent last week, the contents of which have not been made public.

But the situation has been resolved to the satisfaction of New Zealand Cricket (NZC), who were facing the prospect of Pakistan pulling out of a reciprocal tour next month if they did not honour their commitment.

"The delay to the start of the tour has allowed specific aspects arising out of the threat received against the Black Caps to be resolved.

"We have been advised not to comment on specifics related to that threat," said Snedden.

Police in Pakistan have now established that it was sent from an internet cafe in Lahore.

"When we first got the threat it was pretty chilling, but we have a lot of faith in Martin Snedden and the process they are going through," Fleming commented.

The tour was originally arranged to compensate Pakistan after New Zealand abandoned their 2002 tour when a bomb exploded close to the team hotel in Karachi.

"Security will be at an executive level. We will continue to monitor the situation in the lead-up to and during the tour," Snedden added.




SEE ALSO
NZ may abandon tour
14 Nov 03  |  Cricket
NZ hit by Pakistan safety threat
13 Nov 03  |  Cricket
Kiwi players can opt out
08 Nov 03  |  Cricket


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