Vettori calls for change

The Indian Premier League (IPL) riches will likely outweigh national pride if it comes to that for New Zealand's cricketers.

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Daniel Vettori, the Black Caps captain, has given his country his all over the past decade. And he will continue doing so, barring that time of the year when New Zealand's itinerary clashes with the IPL's. The left-arm spinner, therefore, wants his country's board to recognise his fellow players' desire to play in the Twenty20 tournament and reschedule matches accordingly.

Vettori is one of six senior players who delayed signing central contracts until Friday after scheduling conflicts between IPL and New Zealand's 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 yesterday. "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."

Several Black Caps arrived late for their tour of England in 2008 so they could play in the IPL. sports@thenational.ae