‘We’ll take NZC’s word on IPL’

Daniel Vettori stated emphatically that any future tour of the sub-continent would only be possible if the players were happy with the advice they received regarding security from the New Zealand Cricket and players' association. Anand Vasu reports.

Daniel Vettori stated emphatically that any future tour of the sub-continent would only be possible if the players were happy with the advice they received regarding security from the New Zealand Cricket and players' association.

HT Image

“The one thing the players have done is to trust NZC and the players' association,” said Vettori, who plays for the Delhi Daredevils. “That won't change heading up to the IPL or our tour of Sri Lanka later in the year. We have to remain consistent with what we have done in the past. If people come out and say these places are safe to tour, then we have to take their opinion.

“I can say from when I last toured India, for the IPL and the previous tour, safety wasn't something I was concerned about at that time.

“But things are so fluid in that part of the world at the moment that you have to be honest with yourself and scrutinise every decision you make heading to that part of the world.”

When Vettori was asked to react to Jacob Oram's comments that he would have to rethink his IPL plans, he said, “It is a very individual thing. Jacob probably spoke from his heart, he's that sort of a guy. A lot of the other guys will take trust from what NZC does and the players' association says about security around all sub-continent tours in the future.”

The good part was that Virender Sehwag, captain of the Delhi Daredevils, had already spoken to Vettori to reassure him about travelling to India for the IPL. “He's more excited about the Delhi team getting together than anything,” said Vettori.

For his part, Sehwag was very clear that India was safe to tour. “They are very secure in India, I think,” he said. “The kind of incidents that have happened in India have happened in the United States and England, so it's wrong to say we are not safe in India. I believe we are more safe in India than in many other countries, because after the Mumbai attacks security is very tight.

“Whoever comes to play in the IPL is safe. I had a chat with Daniel and told him you are safe in Delhi, we are getting more security also.”

The Indian vice-captain, who has been in touch with Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Muttiah Muralitharan via SMS, said he and his team felt 'very safe' in New Zealand. “I thought terrorists would never target cricketers, but now they are doing so. It's very sad news.”