NOTTINGHAM, June 5: New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram has expressed that his team’s upcoming tour of Pakistan is looming as a “massive issue” as the players weigh up whether to go or stay.

While Oram was tight-lipped about a Herald Sun report that some senior players were uncomfortable with the three-match tour of Pakistan in late August, which precedes the ICC Champions Trophy there, he confirmed the issue was raised at a recent team meeting.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) responded by saying the players would be given an opportunity to miss the tour without any impact on their contractual status, or implications for future selection. It raises the prospect of a young, inexperienced side touring, if the senior players follow through with their concerns.

“It’s a massive issue for players and everyone concerned. It’s still a while away, nothing in my head’s been made up either way,” Oram said here.

“Probably after this (England) tour, because Pakistan will be the next tour for us, I’ll really have to sit down with my wife and family and make decisions. At this stage I haven’t really given it a lot of thought so I’ve got no definitive answer.”

Vice-captain Brendon McCullum said it was too early to comment.

The NZC agreed in principle to playing one-dayers in Multan (Aug 24) and Faisalabad (Aug 27 and 30) before the Champions Trophy, pending an independent security report.

It is understood some New Zealand players were uncomfortable with this, especially after Australia cancelled their scheduled tour earlier this year amid an uncertain security situation in Pakistan.

Oram further said New Zealand’s Cricket Players’ Association boss Heath Mills met with team before last month’s first Test at Lord’s, and Pakistan was one of the issues raised. “There are security issues going on so there will have to be talks, definitely.”—Agencies