Cricket: McCullum backs safety-first approach of IPL's venue shift

Brendon McCullum says he wonders how the IPL will be accepted ouside India. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand vice-captain Brendon McCullum's sense of realism is tinged with regret after security concerns forced the second edition of cricket's Indian Premier League offshore.

McCullum is one of eight current and past New Zealand internationals contracted to the lucrative Twenty20 competition.

The 59-match tournament, scheduled for April 10 to May 24, clashed with the Indian general election campaign and player safety could not be guaranteed during what could be a volatile time. England or South Africa are potential venues.

"It's a sensible decision based on the situation in India with the elections," said McCullum.

"If you can't guarantee the safety of the players involved in the tournament, it makes it pretty hard to hold the tournament regardless of where it is.

"It's disappointing not to play in India because it's an amazing place. They get right behind the tournament."

McCullum said he had not decided whether to join the Kolkata franchise before the latest development.

Like his teammates, he was being regularly updated on the security situation by the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association.

Association executive manager Heath Mills said his organisation had had concerns about security for some time.

The NZCPA association had worked hard to convince the IPL to get player associations involved in the security check process but those attempts were unsuccessful.

"That was always going to be an issue and we were having difficulty engaging the IPL and the Indian board on those security issues. So to have it moved is a good thing."

Other than McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Kyle Mills, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori, Jacob Oram and Scott Styris are contracted to the Indian league as players.

Former captain Stephen Fleming will coach the Chennai franchise.

Mills was unsure whether the tournament would attract the same attendance and levels of enthusiasm as in India.

"That's the million-dollar question, quite literally. The IPL last year was a truly global event - it was massive and picked up internationally.

"Whether they get the same sized crowds as they did in India remains to be seen. I'd question whether they would, given the significant population there and their obsession with cricket."

McCullum wondered how the IPL would be accepted outside of India and its fanatical fan base.

"It's going to be hard to know until we're there. I guess what it does is create an opportunity to take the IPL on the road."

- NZPA