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New Zealand's top cricketers could be allowed to play in a private Indian competition, provided such play did not cut across any contractual obligations to the national body.
The Indian Cricket League, a month-long Twenty20 competition tipped to start in November, claims to be signing up players around the globe.
The early indications are the proposed league - six teams, each comprising four non-Indian international players, two Indians and eight up-and-coming players - is focusing more on recently retired players, or those coming to the end of their careers, such as Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath, who has expressed interest.
The competition is being bankrolled by Zee Telefilms, India's biggest listed media company, to the tune of US$32 million ($42 million), with a winners purse of US$1 million, and will run in opposition to the official Indian board-sanctioned domestic competition.
Twenty players will be on NZC contracts at the time the league is due to run, but New Zealand Cricket Players Association manager Heath Mills can see potential for those approached to take part - with qualifications.
He understands no currently contracted player has been approached, including Shane Bond, who yesterday denied he had been sounded out.
"Players would need to seek a clearance [from NZC], and that clearance cannot be unreasonably withheld," Mills said.
"Our players are individual contractors, not employees, so as long as you're able to fulfil your obligations to NZC you can go and play for another entity."
That applies to players like captain Stephen Fleming and batsman Scott Styris, who will be playing county cricket in England when their new NZC contracts kick in.
Mills believes contracted players seeking clearance is "a wee way down the track".
In any case, NZC would be unlikely to grant temporary releases to contracted players this year. They have the Twenty20 world championship in South Africa in October and a month-long tour there from November 9-December 2. That would cut across the timeline for the Indian project.
However, assuming the ICL does get off the ground, it might become more relevant in coming years, depending on New Zealand's international commitments.
NZC also understand no current internationals have been approached, and a policy has yet to be formed on non-ICC governed competitions.
Former Indian great Kapil Dev has been named as boss of the league, and other names linked with it include former Australian test batsman Dean Jones, Indian wicketkeeper and former chief selector Kiran More and commentator and former England captain Tony Greig.
Although it has a whiff of Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket of the late 1970s, it's far different. For a start, the competition is Twenty20, the Chicken McNugget of international cricket. Packer's circus, which introduced novelties like coloured clothing, white balls and several cameras stationed round the grounds, involved five-day and one-day cricket, and changed the face of cricket forever.
* New Zealand seam bowler Daryl Tuffey is joining Auckland next season. The Northern Districts veteran joins international reserve wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins, who this week announced his shift to Auckland from Otago.
Tuffey played the last of his 22 tests three years ago, having taken 66 wickets at an average of 31.2. His 80 one-day internationals have yielded 91 wickets at 32 runs each.
Auckland Cricket chief executive Andrew Eade welcomed Tuffey's shift.
"With Daryl on board we will have greater depth, and his considerable experience should allow him to play a mentoring role and help bring on some of our more promising emerging fast bowlers."
