New Zealand's England series to clash with IPL
New Zealand's tour of England next year is likely to overlap with the 2013 IPL season, forcing some of their senior players to choose which series to take part in
ESPNcricinfo staff
01-Jun-2012
Schedule of NZ's England tour in 2013
May 4-6: Three-day game v Derbyshire
May 9-12: four-day game v England Lions
May 16-20 First Test
May 24-28: Second Test
May 31: First ODI
June 2: Second ODI
June 5: Third ODI
June 22: T20 v Kent
June 25: First T20
June 27: Second T20
(The Champions Trophy will be played between the ODIs and the T20s)
New Zealand's tour of England next year (see schedule alongside) is likely to overlap with the 2013 IPL season, forcing the likes of captain Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori to choose which series to take part in. Next year's IPL is set to start on April 3 and is expected to run till the end of May, while New Zealand's warm-up matches begin on May 4.
The clash in schedules seems to violate the terms of the eight-year agreement between NZC, the players' association and the six major domestic associations that called for a clear IPL window for New Zealand's cricketers.
Since the deal was signed in August 2010, there has been only one IPL season during which there were no international commitments for New Zealand's players. Five New Zealand cricketers - Vettori, Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum and Jesse Ryder - currently on a central contract have signed up with IPL franchises.
While Ryder's New Zealand contract will come to an end in June, other IPL players like allrounder James Franklin and fast bowler Doug Bracewell will be in line for contracts.
So far New Zealand, unlike West Indies, have not had to field a weakened side due to the IPL.