'We're not stalling': Snedden

Martin Snedden: 'We have slightly different views on how this could work' © Getty Images

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has denied reports that they are delaying the process of fixing dates for their South Africa tour, scheduled to begin in four months. Apparently, the official website of the United Cricket Board of South Africa has blamed NZC for stalling when it came to fixing the dates for the tour.

"We're not stalling," said Martin Snedden, the NZC chief executive, quoted in The New Zealand Herald. "We have slightly different views on how this could work. The window we have makes it quite difficult and, not surprisingly, a solution that suits New Zealand doesn't necessarily suit South Africa."

Snedden said that if the problems were not sorted out within a week, he would be meeting Gerald Majola, UCB chief executive, in London. "It has been a difficult issue but it's not the case that there have been ultimatums," he said. "We have had quite robust discussions but we do that with a lot of tours."

The problem occurs due to the scheduling of Super Series between Australia and the Rest of the World in October. The proposed three-Test series and five one-day internationals were likely to start around October 10, with warm-up matches coinciding with the Super Series. However, Snedden mentioned that it was unlikely that the tour would go ahead without the players engaged in the Super Series.

"The available window has been reduced and we've been discussing with South Africa how we can sensibly structure the tour to fit all matches in and not create an unmanageable burden for players."

South Africa have seven players - Mark Boucher, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Andre Nel and Graeme Smith - in the preliminary 30-man squads for the Super Series, whereas New Zealand have only Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum.

The official website of South African cricket said, "With the Super Series now in October and South Africa also owing India five one-day internationals, the pressure is on to try and fit these commitments in before South Africa leave for their Australian tour on December 6. The Kiwis have been resisting South Africa's suggested dates, so there are still assorted scheduling possibilities."

Majola has suggested two alternatives: the Kiwis could play three Tests in South Africa after the Super Series and then return for their five limited-overs matches after the home-and-away series against Australia (March 2006). That would allow South Africa to meet their five-ODI obligation in India in November.

Otherwise, New Zealand could cram their three Tests and five ODIs into October and November, with South Africa going to India at the end of the season. "There's always issues when you split a tour with travel costs," said Snedden. "It's a possibility but, to be honest, it's not something we've discussed with them."