Shane Bond all set to play in IPL-3

Wellington: Kolkata Knight Riders couldn't have asked for a better news as New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond is set to declare himself available for the forthcoming Indian Premier League-3 tournament, starting on March 12.

New Zealand Cricket Players Association chief Heath Mills' confirmed the Kiwi speedster will declare himself available for the upcoming IPL-3.

Apart from Bond, Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum and Jacob Oram (if fit) are also likely to play in the tournament.

"They're going of their own accord; New Zealand Cricket isn't involved, so it comes down to an individual decision at the end of the day. Bondy will be the first one to go, so he's probably getting close to making a decision and all I'm going to do is keep relaying information to him from our security adviser, Reg Dickason," Mills said.

"The measures they've put in place have got a lot better so they (the players) are getting more confident. Certainly more confident than they were two weeks ago," Mills said.

"I'd say they'd be of a mind to go at the moment, but that's their call and obviously I wouldn't want to be seen to say that they're definitely going," Stuff.co.nz quoted Bond. The Black Caps strike bowler was snapped up by the KKR for a staggering $750,000, plus the 'silent tie-breaker' amount in the last auction. 

Mills was of the opinion that security arrangement around the 12 venues and host cities in India has been satisfactory and is likely to improve in the lead-up to the tournament.