Black Caps six sign contracts

A potential rift caused by a scheduling conflict for next year's Australian tour and the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) has been avoided with all 20 players offered New Zealand Cricket (NZC) contracts having signed on the dotted line by today.

The 2010 IPL has been moved to an earlier date to accommodate the ICC World Twenty20 championship.

It is expected to commence on March 12, clashing with a significant part of Australia's scheduled tour to New Zealand.

Black Caps Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor are contracted with the IPL.

Another who has signed his contract was pace bowler Shane Bond who, having severed his links with the rebel Indian Cricket League, is now a big target for IPL franchises.

"They were granted extensions to confirm their contracts and they have all now signed," NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said today.

"The final dates for the Australian tour are still to be confirmed, but it is obvious that with the early commencement to the IPL in 2010, there will be a significant overlap.

"However all our players with IPL contracts who were offered New Zealand Cricket contracts have now signed.

"This is an admirable decision by each of these individuals and they should be applauded for it.

"By signing their contracts they are sacrificing significant sums of money.

"Their decision helps to reinforce international cricket as the pinnacle of our sport, and clearly shows that representing New Zealand remains the biggest motivating factor for our leading players."

Vaughan indicated international cricket authorities would need to look for solutions as the IPL would continue to impinge on the international calendar.

"We appreciate this issue may recur again and the onus is on international cricket to proactively search for solutions so that players are not forced to make such difficult decisions in the future," he said.

Vaughan said discussions with players and the NZC Players Association throughout the past two weeks had been positive and constructive.

The others to have signed their contracts are Brent Arnel, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Grant Elliott, James Franklin, Daniel Flynn, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Tim McIntosh, Chris Martin, Iain O'Brien, Jeetan Patel and Tim Southee.

NZPA