New Zealand cricket CEO White laments losing key players to the IPL

New Zealand cricket CEO David White has lamented over some of the players leaving the side to go ahead and play in the cash-rich Indian Premier League, the fact is that the permissions have been granted despite matches against Bangladesh and Ireland coming up. However, with many players having signed multi-million dollar deals, it is highly unlikely that these players would come back and play for the international side.

Ross Taylor would be taking over as skipper for these matches with Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Corey Anderson, Adam Milne, and perhaps even Martin Guptill and Matt Henry playing for their respective IPL franchises. These matches the Kiwis would be playing against both Ireland and Bangladesh would be in preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017.

“Ideally, we’d like our touring squad to remain together from day one until the end, with the players undergoing the same experiences and being judged and monitored in the same environment,” said New Zealand cricket CEO David White. “The reality is that the IPL has changed all that, through the sheer power of its financial clout. As the West Indies’ example has already shown us, we have much to lose in terms of opposing IPL participation and, relatively speaking, very little to gain.”

White also went on to add that he was a massive advocate of New Zealand players playing in the IPL to get a feel of the subcontinent conditions. “I think our strategic approach to this one has been bang on: Encourage our Black Caps to continue playing for New Zealand by allowing them to share in the opportunities now available in the professional market. Don’t force them to choose between cash and country and risk a backlash,” White said.

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White went on to conclude that, “At least on this occasion, they’ll be moving from one short-form, white-ball tournament to another… I think a compromise in which our players can feel they’re getting the best of both worlds, is the prudent option.”