Wellington (New Zealand), Feb. 23 : New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has said that he is ready to halt the Black Caps tour of Zimbabwe.

The New Zealand cricket team are scheduled to play three one one-day internationals in the strife-torn African nation in July under the International Cricket Council''s (ICC) future tours programme.

The only way New Zealand Cricket (NZC) can avoid ICC sanctions is if Key orders the team not to tour.

According to stuff. co. nz, Key has previously stated his reluctance for the team to go and repeated that today on TV One''s Breakfast programme saying there were genuine security risks and health risks for the players.

Asked if he was prepared to step in Key said: "Potentially, yes".

"There are some options that I am working through at the moment," he added. (ANI)