JOHANNESBURG, Feb 20: The International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected New Zealand’s request to switch their World Cup Group ‘B’ match against Kenya and awarded the points to the home team on Thursday.

The ICC executive board refused to reschedule Friday’s game from Nairobi to South Africa, ruling that the venue was safe despite New Zealand’s security concerns.

It added that four points have been awarded to Kenya because “New Zealand has decided not to travel to Kenya or apply to the event technical committee”.

“I am happy that the matter is now resolved and that the ICC Cricket World Cup can move forward,” ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said in a statement.

“At the same time, we have already seen some fantastic matches in this tournament and I am disappointed that this match will not be taking place.”

An ICC spokesman said: “Today’s decision is the final word on the matter. NZC had representation at today’s meeting and said they would not be applying to the technical committee.”

Kenya Cricket Association (KCA) chairman Jimmy Rayani had mixed feelings over the ICC decision.

“It is good to have four points in our bag because it gives us a fair chance of qualifying for the Super Six (stage),” he said.

“But earning the points is not the ultimate aim. We would have wanted New Zealand here so that our spectators could have a chance of watching some good cricket.”

New Zealand’s fears were fuelled by a bombing in Mombasa in November which killed 16 people, but their request to move the match to an alternative venue was opposed by the KCA.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has already warned it could appeal to the Court of Arbitration in Lausanne, and is well aware that the match forfeit could prevent its team from progressing to the Super Six stage of the tournament.

Sri Lanka top the Group ‘B’ standings with 12 points, while New Zealand are joint second with Kenya on eight, having won two of their first three games.

New Zealand can now only hope for a maximum of 16 points by the end of the group phase, leaving them open to being passed by West Indies or South Africa.

The New Zealand team, who play their next World Cup match against Bangladesh in Kimberley on Wednesday, were practising in Durban on Thursday.

The ICC executive board, which considered NZC’s request in a teleconference, comprised ICC president Malcolm Gray, ICC vice-president Ehsan Mani, the presidents of the 10 full-member nations and three representatives of associate member countries.

The application was heard by the executive board because NZC’s original advice that it would not play in Kenya was made before the start of the tournament and before the event’s technical committee came into being.

NZC reconfirmed its request to the ICC for the match to be moved on Saturday, the same day England were forced to forfeit a Group ‘A’ game against Zimbabwe after tournament officials rejected their security concerns over playing in Harare.—Reuters