New Zealand on Monday faced accusations that their players racially abused catering staff before last week's World Cup Super Eights match with hosts West Indies.

According to a report in Monday's Antigua Sun, unnamed players were alleged to have said "good morning niggers" to employees of the Goddard Catering Group shortly before the start of last Thursday's match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

The Sun's report also said the International Cricket Council (ICC) had begun an investigation after a complaint from a staff member.

However, New Zealand general manager Lindsay Crocker said the Sun's report had been "grossly embellished" although he added he'd investigated the issue with Cricket World Cup operations director Michael Hall.

Crocker explained that catering staff had been interviewed after suggestions they heard the word "nigger" used during a private conversation between three or four squad members.

He added that staff were unable to identify those they thought might be involved and Crocker stressed that no derogatory comments were directed at the caterers.

"We became aware of a rumour circulation amona the caterina staff that there was a racially based comment made in the players' lounge as everyone was assembling," Crocker said.

"We talked to the catering staff and we quickly found there were three or four people in the room at the time," Crocker also told reporters here Monday.

"They weren't able to tell me who they were, they indicated they were older members of the group.

"The three had been talking on the other side of the room and the catering staff thought they heard this one word 'nigger' in the conversation.

"They weren't sure if they heard it accurately, they didn't hear any other comments, and the comments weren't directed at the catering staff," Crocker added.

"It became clear to Michael (Hall) and myself there was no great substance to this. There was no complaint or allegation from staff whatsoever.

"As far as we were concerned it died then and there."

But having seen the story make headlines, Crocker added: "It was an enormous surprise to see those rumours have been embellished the way they were.

"The report was grossly embellished based on a rumour which is utterly inaccurate."

New Zealand's multi-cultural squad features batsman Ross Taylor, whose mother is Samoan,

and off-spinner Jeetan Patel, both of whose parents are from India.

Crocker said it was "highly unlikely" any member of the Black Caps party could be guilty of racism.

Hall told the Sun the incident was a "misunderstanding" while a spokesman for the catering company in Barbados said they were unaware of any complaints made by staff at the ground.