Under ICC criteria, all World Cup squads must be named by December 31, by which time only two of New Zealand's seven one-day internationals against India will have been played. Snedden was hoping for an extension to the end of the series.

"Obviously the selectors would have liked the opportunity to see as much one-day cricket as possible before selecting the 15-man squad," Snedden said in a statement released on Tuesday.

"I asked the ICC for an extension to the end of the ODI series but that request was refused."

Snedden said he was now exploring the possibility of announcing the squad on January 2, given that January 1 is a public holiday in New Zealand and England, home of the ICC headquarters at Lord's.

This would enable the New Zealand selectors to see the third ODI against India and an extra round of the domestic one-day competition.

New Zealand have been drawn in Pool B for the World Cup in South Africa and Zimbabwe starting on February 9, along with co-hosts South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh, Kenya and Canada.