Friday, March 21, 2008

ICC Lay Out IPL Guidelines

The International Cricket Council has said that international tours must take precedence over the fledgling Twenty20 Indian Cricket League.

The lucrative IPL is set to launch next month and several national boards - particularly New Zealand and West Indies - were worried their players could retire early or opt to play in the IPL when dates clash with regular tours.

It was decided at the ICC's executive board meeting in Dubai that national boards will have the right to stop a player featuring in the IPL until two years after his retirement.

"In general terms it was agreed the IPL was a good concept and although the introduction of privately-owned franchises introduced risks to the game, it also provided possible benefits,"

the ICC said in a statement.

The ICC also cleared the way for a trial allowing player referrals of on-field decisions to the television umpire to take place.

Subject to the consent of the England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket South Africa, the trial will be conducted during the Test series between those two sides in England next July.

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