KEY POINTS:
After hitting the Indian Premier League (IPL) jackpot New Zealand cricket captain Daniel Vettori has quickly found himself in a no-win situation.
That's because Vettori's international commitments erode the massive financial boost he and others earned in Mumbai on Wednesday night.
Vettori, Brendon McCullum and Jacob Oram all
profited immensely when the IPL's eight franchises shelled out US$40 million ($50.60 million) to build their rosters for April's inaugural tournament.
The New Zealand trio were at the forefront of the bidding war with McCullum (US$700,000), Oram (US$675,000) and Vettori (US$625,000) among the big winners when the cream of international cricket went under the hammer.
However, their good fortune is already depreciating with the first instalment of those three-year deals already devalued by New Zealand's upcoming tour to England.
The three test playing members of the IPL contingent - retirement-bound Stephen Fleming and one-day specialist Scott Styris are not affected - will have their IPL income significantly reduced because the six-week competition overlaps with New Zealand's two-month tour to England.
The IPL, which operates on a pay-per-play model, starts on April 18; New Zealand's tour of England begin nine days later.
That will leave the trio facing an interesting dilemma.
Vettori, vice-captain McCullum and Oram may seek to delay their arrival in England, a move that could call their loyalty into question and hamper their preparation for a three-test series starting at Lord's on May 15.
On the eve of the fifth and final one-dayer against England here tomorrow, Vettori reiterated his "heart was with New Zealand" although at the same time he wanted to fit in as many IPL games as possible before heading to England.
Vettori had not decided whether he would be in England for the tour opener against the MCC at Arundel on April 27.
"We're working through it at the moment," he said of his discussions with New Zealand Cricket (NZC).
"I hope I'm available for a number of (IPL) games for obvious reasons but we have to sit back and wait."
Reports out of India claim the IPL players would have to compete for their franchises up to May 5. If so, Vettori would play six of the 13 round robin games for the Delhi Daredevils.
Were he able to meet that obligation he would still lose an estimated US$336,500 for missing the final seven games and possible semifinal and final.
Vettori was unsure if the May 5 scenario was workable but suggested arriving in England 10 days before a test was viable from a player's point of view.
"If it is May 5 then we've got 10 days before the first test starts, so it's still an extended period of time, longer than you'd have for any other tour," he said.
Vettori admitted it could be seen as more appropriate for the team captain - and senior players - to arrive with the remainder of the tour party.
"I can see how it's important for a captain to be there from the start and I can also see this is the way we're moving in cricket," he said.
"Guys are probably going to be on tour for shorter periods of time and there are some important commitments to the IPL. We're talking about people's financial futures as well.
"I can understand the perception of the senior guys not being there but I suppose you can also look at it the other way - it's a chance for a couple of guys to stake a test claim. I suppose the best of both worlds is what we're asking for."
NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan has suggested the players will not be allowed to arrive late in England.
"The players realise where their priorities lie," he said.
"It might hurt them in the pocket for the first year but the following two years are clear for them."
Vettori said a dedicated window for IPL in the International Cricket Council's future tours programme would "appease everyone" but there is no joy there either.
An ICC chief executives meeting in Malaysia this week decreed the programme was in place until 2012 and "no window would be considered or created prior to that".
- NZPA
