Cricket: Window to be carved for IPL

Brendon McCullum came close to not signing with NZC so he could be available for the IPL. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand Cricket is about to bow to the inevitable and carve out its own window for the Indian Premier League.

The move would mean NZC would not schedule any international matches during the six weeks of the IPL, ensuring the availability of those players signed by the 10 franchises.

It would alleviate the situation that developed last year when six players delayed signing their central contracts as they waited to see how much of Australia's in-bound tour would cut into the IPL.

Brendon McCullum has admitted he came very close to not signing with NZC so he could be available for the entirety of the IPL.

In the end, a test was dropped from a proposed schedule so the overlap was reduced.

In an ideal scenario for NZC, the International Cricket Council would create a worldwide window for the IPL. However, the Indian cricket's governing body, the BCCI, is against this because it would raise the issue of compensation for those boards who are deprived of revenue during this period.

The dates for the 2011 IPL have yet to be released, though it is likely to be held in April and May.

The IPL "window" looks set to be a key plank of the Collective Agreement being thrashed out by NZC and the Players' Association.