Three NZ players opt out of Champions Trophy

Three potential members of the New Zealand ICC Champions Trophy squad have declared themselves unavailable for the Sri Lanka event because of security fears, chairman of selectors Sir Richard Hadlee said on Monday.

Batsmen Craig McMillan and Matt Horne, along with leg-spin bowler Brooke Walker have asked not to be considered for next month's one-day international tournament as the Kiwis seek to defend the title they won in Kenya in 2000.

The situation in Sri Lanka has stabilised recently after the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who began fighting in 1983 over Tamil calls for a separate state, have observed a Norwegian-brokered truce since February.

"The players' decision has been accepted by New Zealand Cricket," chief executive Martin Snedden said.

"When deciding whether to attend the tournament, the safety of the team was our top priority.

"We have been advised that a cease-fire has been in place and the country is the most stable it has been for some time."

New Zealand have already had one major security scare this year when they were forced to cut short their tour of Pakistan in May.

A bomb blast on a Karachi bus killed 14 people just minutes before the team were due to travel to the second test of the series leaving the tourists no option other than to return home.

All-rounder Chris Cairns, who scored a century in leading New Zealand to victory in the Nairobi final against India two years ago, fellow all-rounder Andre Adams and left-arm seamer Shayne O'Connor, are also unavailable through injury.

Mathew Sinclair has won his place back after missing selection for the recent Pakistan and West Indies tours but Ian Butler, who made his debut against England this year to replace the then injured Shane Bond, has been omitted.

The squad:

Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Chris Harris, Paul Hitchcock, Kyle Mills, Chris Nevin, Jacob Oram, Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris, Glen Sulzberger, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent.

Mail Cricket Editor