August 01, 2008	Friday	Rajab 28, 1429

WELLINGTON, July 31: Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming on Thursday urged his country’s cricket board — New Zealand Cricket (NZC) —to take a stance on touring Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in September, instead of leaving individual players to decide.

It is understood that several high-profile players are likely to opt out of the tournament owing to security fears, after the ICC last week confirmed Pakistan as hosts.

New Zealand are also scheduled to tour the country for a three-ODI series in August but that too looks in doubt.

“I know I’d be reluctant if I was still there, although it’s tough to say categorically without being privy to the security reports circulated,” Fleming told New Zealand Herald.

“But it’s only going to demean the tournament as a spectacle if three or four of the leading nations send second-string sides, which is why the national body needs to step in and make the decision.”

Besides New Zealand, players from other leading teams like England, Australia and South Africa have expressed reservations over touring. The respective cricket boards are likely to take a final decision when the ICC-appointed task force carries out its security inspection after Aug 14h, when Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day.

Fleming felt that NZC was fortunate to have the backing of other leading teams on this issue.

“It’s an unenviable position for New Zealand Cricket to be in, definitely,” Fleming said. “It’s a situation we’ve been in before, when we refused to play in Kenya [at the 2003 World Cup], although back then New Zealand was on its own standing up to the ICC.

“This time we have some fairly hefty weight behind us in the form of Australia and England, which significantly changes the landscape and any potential repercussions.”

He did however sympathize with Pakistan, which has experienced several bomb blasts in major cities over the last few months. India, too, was affected by blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad but there have been no reports yet of Australia or England cancelling or postponing their respective tours of the country later this year.

“I know the situation might not be 100 per cent there, but there’s constant bomb blasts in India, and Sri Lanka’s reputation [when it comes to terrorism] is hardly squeaky-clean,” he said. “You’ve got to wonder if Pakistan aren’t questioning why they’re the only ones being singled out.”

The Champions Trophy is scheduled between Sept 11 and 28 in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.—Agencies