IPL has first call on New Zealand cricketers over Kiwi counterparts

Auckland, Apr 28 : New Zealand's representative at September's Champions League Twenty20 tournament is likely to lose out its players to the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises.

The Central Districts Stags, who have qualified to attend the event after winning this season's domestic Twenty20 title, have three players - Ross Taylor, Jacob Oram and Graham Napier, who already have contracts with IPL franchises.

Talking about the issue, Stags Chief Executive Blair Furlong said that he did not know who had first call on their services.

"That's to be decided. There's no information on this year's tournament yet because obviously they've only just had their meeting at the end of the IPL to confirm South Africa [as the tournament venue]," Stuff.co.nz quoted Furlong, as saying.

"Basically the situation is that you nominate an initial squad, which in our case would obviously include the players that played for us last season, which would include Oram, Taylor and Napier," he added.

However, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) Manager Geoff Allott was clear about the issue, and said the IPL teams had first option on the players.

"Part of their contract says that their franchises have first dibs on them. If the IPL franchise does not want them, then Central Districts Stags will get them," Allott said.

"All things being equal, we would be wanting all our players to play for us. But there''s a decision to be made by the players in terms of where they go and who they play for," he added.