New Zealand delays Zimbabwe tour

New Zealand has postponed its cricket tour of Zimbabwe in the face of strong political opposition, the country's cricket board said Wednesday.

The one-year delay came after New Zealand Prime Minister John Key indicated he was prepared to stop the tour going ahead, citing "very real, genuine security risks" for the players.

The decision followed talks between New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan and his Zimbabwean counterpart Ozias Bvuteat at an International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in Johannesburg.

Vaughan said Zimbabwe Cricket was aware of the New Zealand government's opposition to the tour, originally scheduled for July, and asked for the deferral.

"This is a pragmatic solution that allows the situation in Zimbabwe to be monitored over the next year," Vaughan said.

"Given that Zimbabwe remains a full member of ICC we have continuing obligations to play them on a reciprocal basis - therefore this agreement is an acceptable outcome for the present time".

A spokesman for Key said the government welcomed the decision.

"It's obviously a good outcome from our point of view," the spokesman said.

"We didn't have anything directly to do with it."

New Zealand last toured Zimbabwe in 2005, for two Tests and a one-day tri-series including India, after then prime minister Helen Clark strongly urged the team not to go but stopped short of ordering them to stay home.

Under ICC rules, any team pulling out of an agreed tour can be fined two million US dollars, although the fine can be avoided if a government issues a directive not to tour.

WELLINGTON, Wednesday (AFP)