WELLINGTON, (Reuters) – New Zealand cricketers may opt to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) rather than for their country if the Twenty20 competition continues to clash with international commitments, captain Daniel Vettori said.
Vettori was one of six senior players who delayed signing their central contracts until Friday after scheduling conflicts between the IPL and New Zealand’s international programme next season had been clarified.
“It’s a difficult decision and people have families and other issues to work through but our priority was to play for New Zealand,” Vettori told the Herald on Sunday newspaper.
“But we realise that if these situations continue to come up it will be difficult for players to continue to turn down the money, so we implore the powers that be to (find a solution) so we don’t have to make these decisions every year.”
Vettori and several other players arrived late for New Zealand’s tour of England in 2008 so they could play matches in the inaugural IPL.