New Zealand cricketers' involvement in the Indian Premier League is in serious doubt after their players' association recommended a pull out from the tournament, which starts on March 12.
Players have been left to contemplate their participation in IPL after a report by independent security adviser Reg Dickason warned that security could not be guaranteed for the tournament.
The highly anticipated report commissioned by the New Zealand, Australian, English and South African players' unions also cast doubt on the ability of local authorities to deliver security management plans.
According to reports, a dossier compiled by Dickason has been passed on to individual players who have IPL deals, with a reported advice against travel to India.
It is believed that Dickason's report claims the threats made by Al-Qaeda militant Ilyas Kashmiri against the IPL is credible.
New Zealand Cricket Players' Association manager Heath Mills said he had talked to Brendon McCullum, Shane Bond, Jacob Oram, Daniel Vettori and Ross Taylor about the report.
The New Zealand Herald quoted a statement is likely within the next 24 hours on the positions of the players' associations.
With contracts ranging about $400,000 and $750,000, the players stand to lose millions if they refuse to travel.
Aussies briefed on security during IPL
The Australian Cricketers' Association on Tuesday briefed its Indian Premier League-bound players about the security threat to the event and demanded specific assurance on their safety from the organisers.
ACA chief executive Paul Marsh met the players contracted with various IPL franchises and handed an independent security assessment on IPL prepared by Dickason in Sydney.
The meeting came after IPL players like Simon Katich (King XI Punjab) and Shaun Tait (Rajasthan Royals) made public their safety concerns about travelling to India for the event after terror outfit Al-Qaeda warned of attacks on foreign players.
"The Australian Cricketers Association has just met with the majority of Australian IPL players to update them on the information contained in the independent security report commissioned by the Player Associations of Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa and to discuss the next steps in the IPL security process," Marsh said after the meeting.
