25 Jul 2009

Big six sign with NZ Cricket

5:07 am on 25 July 2009

New Zealand Cricket says the six players with Indian Premier League contracts have now signed their international playing contracts, sacrificing what chief executive Justin Vaughan says are significant sums of money.

Vaughan says Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor have made an admirable decision that helps reinforce international cricket as the sport's pinnacle.

The IPL clashes with a significant part of Australia's scheduled tour to New Zealand after it was moved into March to accommodate the ICC World Twenty20.

Vaughan says although the final dates of the Australian tour are still to be confirmed there'll be a significant overlap.

He says New Zealand Cricket appreciates the issue may recur and the onus is on the ICC to look for solutions so players are not forced to make such difficult decisions in future.