We think IPL is a top league: New Zealand Cricket

It was way back in 2007 when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the launch of a new T20 league at a five-star hotel in the national capital and cricket had stepped on an obscure path. The shortest version of the game had just put its foot in India, the game’s biggest market. Industrialists and celebrities shelled out crores to buy franchises and get their hands on cricket’s biggest stars in the auction. And suddenly the world took notice of the IPL when it was in the spring of its life.

Ten years down the line, it has been through a lot of ups and downs. Nevertheless, IPL has emerged as a top notch league in world cricket engrossing the living rooms and public spaces all over the world. Through, it is over a month long festival of cricket millions celebrate it in stadiums or in front of their Television sets every day. Almost, every cricketing nation and cricketer want to be a part of the cash-rich IPL.

Cricket Australia’s take on IPL

However, Cricket Australia (CA) has a different view towards the lucrative T20 league and is worried about their players being a part of the IPL. They want to keep their players fresh during their off days in April and May when the league is played.

As per some reports, CA has offered multi-year central contracts to its key players in order to keep them away from the Indian Premier League. The offer is said to be made to Test captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

Contrary stand of NZ Cricket

However contrary to CA’s stand New Zealand Cricket authorities on Friday said they encourage their players to take part in the top notch Twenty20 league in India.

“We think IPL is a top league. The New Zealand Cricket encourages its players to play in the IPL,” James Wear, the commercial director of New Zealand Cricket, said at a sponsorship event in the city.