A Kiwi rush to Kenya for extra points highly unlikely

Conjecture that New Zealand might now reconsider its objection to playing its World Cup group match in Kenya as a result of Monday night's loss to Sri Lanka appears misguided.

While it might have been a natural conclusion to draw that because of the loss to Sri Lanka the players might be prepared to reconsider the matter, the argument based on the most recent evidence doesn't hold any water.

The security report and follow-up material that resulted in New Zealand's stance was made on behalf of the board of New Zealand Cricket (NZC), not the New Zealand players.

It was a decision of the board of NZC to not play the match in Kenya, although that was done with the full agreement of the players.

Any decision to change that stance would therefore be required from the board.

To date there has been no indication of any prospect of change from New Zealand.

If anything, following the comments made by Al Qaeda figurehead Osama bin Laden today, the security risk has probably heightened.

Besides, any sudden decision to rush to Kenya to play the match would fly in the face of the point that NZC has been trying to make in regard to the threat of terrorism and would leave the side, and NZC, open to claims of blatant opportunism.

The simple fact of the matter is, as it has been since the draw for the World Cup was made, that if New Zealand want to make it into the Super Six they have to win the required number of matches.

For the moment that means they are two games down and desperately in need of some wins.

New Zealand's next match is against the West Indies in Port Elizabeth tomorrow.