Kiwis' ICC Frustration

Vettori - To Go Or Not To Go.

New Zealand Cricket Players' Association boss Heath Mills admitted there is growing frustration with the International Cricket Council about their handling of the issues surrounding next month's Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

New Zealand, Australia, England and South Africa have all expressed fears for player safety if the tournament remains in Pakistan and seem increasingly likely to pull out of the event should it not be relocated.

Players from all four countries have met with an ICC task force to voice their concerns after a spate of bombings in Pakistan in recent months.

The ICC also removed Rawalpindi from the tournament schedule in a bid to placate the concerned boards.

Following discussions between senior members of the ICC in Dubai on Wednesday, two further teleconferences have now been scheduled.

The first is due to take place on Friday between ICC president David Morgan, vice-president Sharad Pawar, representatives of the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) and the official broadcaster for the tournament, ESPN STAR Sports.

The second, involving the board of the world's governing body, is to happen on Sunday.

But with the tournament due to begin on September 12, Mills believes the issue has been badly handled by the ICC.

"Without doubt there is frustration with the way the issue has been managed and the length of time it has taken to be resolved with the ICC," he told Radio Sport.

"There is certainly no frustration with New Zealand Cricket. Our guys understand the predicament New Zealand Cricket are in.

"They have signed up for contracts, they have obligations and they need to work through this issue with other members of the ICC board as best as they can and I know they are trying to do that.

"We sympathise with their situation and certainly understand the predicament that they are in."