Cricket: Players to quiz IPL on security provisions

New Zealand Cricket Players Association boss Heath Mills. Photo / Alan Gibson

Cricket's leading player associations aim to put the ball back in the Indian Premier League court today.

Representatives from the bodies representing players in England, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand were to put concerns over security issues surrounding the third edition of the IPL to Indian officials early this morning.

How the IPL responds is expected to dictate whether players - including New Zealanders Dan Vettori, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor and Shane Bond - are advised to withdraw from the tournament, due to start in mid-March.

The four player associations commissioned a report from independent security adviser Reg Dickason three months ago. It highlighted serious shortcomings in the IPL security plan.

"The plan itself is very good, but it's just a written document," New Zealand players association boss Heath Mills said last night.

"The plan is one thing; delivering it is something completely different and at the moment we don't have confidence in the Indian authorities to deliver what they said."

The associations are working with the international players' body, Fica. They were having a telephone hookup overnight to put their requests for clarifications to the IPL.

And the backdrop to the leadup to the tournament bears a striking similarity in one respect to last year.

Then, the event was switched to South Africa when the Indian Government was unable to offer acceptable assurances on security as the tournament clashed with the country's elections.

This time, talks between India and Pakistan are due to start tomorrow on a raft of issues, notably the disputed Kashmir region.

It is the first time the countries have sat round a table since the Mumbai terror attack of November 2008, which India has long suspected Pakistan of being involved in.

It is a delicate situation and if it comes to ensuring the safety of political heavyweights or those involved in a Twenty20 event, it would be a no-brainer for the Indian Government. That means a return to South Africa this time is a real possibility.

Mills did not want to discuss specific worries from Dickason's report.

However, the Herald understands one of the points of concern relates to situations involving a mix of parties.

For example, plans for player safety upon arriving at an airport would need to be approved and signed off by various organisations, which might include police, Army, defence and airport authorities.

The Herald understands parts of the IPL plan are broad brush, rather than specific confirmations of involvement.

IPL officials have always been reluctant to deal with players' unions. Mills hopes this time they will react sensibly.

"We are communicating our various concerns to the IPL overnight, then really the ball is in their court. We hope they receive it in good faith and see if they can alleviate those concerns," he said.

Mills met New Zealand players yesterday, including Bond, who is married with a young family and preparing to play Australia when their tour starts in Wellington on Friday.

"It's a month down the track and all I've focused on is this series," he said yesterday.

"I'll let all the stuff that's happened behind the scenes take care of itself. I'll have to make a decision when the time comes up."

There is potential for a damaging spinoff for players who pull out of the IPL, if it stays in India. All contracts end after this tournament, and its officials could take a hard-line view on rehiring players who don't turn up next month.