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New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has demanded assurances for safe evacuation of its players from Pakistan in case situation tenses during their proposed tour in April-May.

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt Gen Tauqir Zia said from Rawalpindi that NZC's request has been accepted and the interior ministry will release a letter of commitment.

"I have forwarded NZC's request to the interior minister and have also talked to Lt Gen (retd) Moinuddin Haider (interior minister) on the issue. As soon as we get the letter, we will sent it to NZC," Tauqir said.

New Zealand are expected to rescheduled their tour from April 20 to May 18 for two Tests and three one-day internationals.

Tauqir said NZC had trust on the assurances given by the PCB but wanted government promise to give its players priority if it came to evacuating them. "God forbidden if a situation came when New Zealand players had to jet out, airport authorities and the national carrier will give them the priority," Tauqir explained, adding: "NZC want minimum departure hassle and added ground security during the proposed tour."

New Zealand had returned Sept 13 from Singapore after terrorist attacks on Washington and New York. But Martin Snedden, NZC chief executive, has promised to fulfil the commitment before Aug 31.

"NZC are only waiting for the said letter. Snedden wants government assurances to convince and satisfy his board executives.

"As far as my understanding goes, the tour is on since Snedden is keen to send his team and doesn't want Pakistan to suffer, both in terms of cricket and revenues," he said.

Pakistan, who are playing the West Indies in Sharjah, stand to earn something around $5million if New Zealand fulfil their commitment. And bulk of the revenue will come from television rights.

The PCB chairman, on the submission of World Cup inquiry report, said he hasn't received it yet. But he promised to make it public as soon as it came in his hands.

"Justice Karamat Bhindari's investigations and recommendations have gone to the law ministry which will first study it before handing it over to the PCB. Since we have studied the inquiry reports of other boards, we will publicize it.

"The entire procedure of Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum's investigations will be repeated," he said, hinting the implementation of all recommendations, if suggested.

The inquiry was order by President General Pervez Musharraf to probe allegations of match-fixing in the 1999 World Cup. Pakistan lost to Bangladesh in one of the biggest upsets in the history of the competition and to India in the Super League.

Tauqir said although International Cricket Council's Anti Corruption Unite (ACU) was in Sharjah, they have been denied to put spy cameras in Pakistan team's dressing rooms and hotel rooms. He, however, said use of surveillance cameras in the hotel lobby has been allowed.

He further said he has instructed the team management not to allow any of its players to make himself available for interview or cross-examination. He said the PCB was not bearing the expenses of ACU.

The PCB chairman admitted that he was disappointed with the performance of the Pakistan Under-19 team in the ICC Youth World Cup. "The batting has let us down. When the team returns, I will talk to the coach (Haroon Rasheed) and inquire him what went wrong," he said. He, however, categorically ruled out that Haroon would be replaced. "I think he has done a good job and I don't think I will replace him."

He added that he would talk to the selectors as well and listen to their point of view on the claims that three deserving batsmen were not picked. "Those players were considered for selection. But why they were not picked, I will ask the selectors."

© Dawn