New Zealand in Pakistan, 2003-04

New Zealand players free to skip Pakistan tour

Wisden Cricinfo staff

November 8, 2003

Craig McMillan: home comforts after India? © Getty Images

New Zealand Cricket will allow its players to decide whether or not they want to tour Pakistan later this month. New Zealand's previous tour of Pakistan was called off in May last year after a bomb blast outside the team hotel in Karachi.

According to the New Zealand Press Association, certain members of the team, currently playing a one-day series in India, are apprehensive about the tour.

Craig McMillan, who didn't even go to Sri Lanka for the ICC Champions Trophy Tournament last year, was non-committal when asked about his availability for the Pakistan trip.

Though security checks undertaken by New Zealand Cricket revealed no reasons as to why the tour shouldn't go ahead, both players and officials have been given the option to stay at home, without the threat of repercussions.

Martin Sneddon, the NZC chief executive, said, "I don't expect many to opt out but I can understand if one or two are doubtful."

There are five one-day games scheduled, starting at Faisalabad on November 22. Interestingly, Karachi has been excluded, as it was when South Africa toured last month. New Zealand agreed to undertake the tour only after Pakistan demanded monetary compensation for last year's truncated series.

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