10 Feb 2011

NZC says report of lewd behaviour exaggerated

8:38 am on 10 February 2011

New Zealand cricketer Tim Southee is adamant he did nothing inappropriate during a flight carrying the World Cup team to Dubai.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan says he is unsure how reports surfaced in New Zealand alleging lewd behaviour with a woman passenger.

He says team manager Dave Currie carried out a full investigation when the flight reached Dubai and it seems the incident was greatly exaggerated.

Mr Vaughan says it appears the cricketer had been talking with a woman in the plane's bar earlier in the night and she later came to his seat for a short time and may have kissed him on the cheek.

New Zealand Cricket says no complaint was laid against Southee after the incident.

Justin Vaughan says the case appears closed unless new information comes to light.

The World Cup is being played in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and begins on 19 February.