IPL needs careful scheduling: Justin Vaughan

Chennai: New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan today said cash rich Indian Premier League has proved to be beneficial for cricketers but organisers should be "careful" in its scheduling.

"IPL has come a long way and benefitted cricketers worldwide. But in the process, a lot of players tend to play in all the matches due to obvious reasons. IPL needs to be careful in deciding how much time it consumes in a year," he said.

Vaughan also refused suggestions that one-day cricket should be scrapped in wake of growing popularity of Twenty20 cricket.

"Cricket is lucky to have these many formats. Each and every formula has an essence of its own. Taking out ODI`s altogether is not a solution. A balance needs to be maintained," Vaughan, who was here to witness Kiwi A side`s game in the Buchi Babu tournament, said.

Vaughan also said Twenty20 format is affecting the pace of Test cricket with batsmen trying innovative shots.

"Yes, there are innovative shots being played these days in Test cricket. The shortest version has influenced players to be more unorthodox in the conventional format. The game is becoming faster than ever before," he said.

However Vaughan, also a doctor, also said that there should not be any tinkering in the traditional format to make it more attractive.

"Why would anybody want it to be a four-day affair? There would be more drawn matches than results. After all, it`s Test cricket we are talking about where a player`s endurance is pushed to the limits in the course of five days," he said.

Talking about inclusion of skipper Daniel Vettori and coach Andy Moles into their selection committee, he said, "We have given it a try as we feel the new make-up will churn out the desired results.”

"In most countries, captains and coaches attend the selection meetings and are also consulted while picking the team. We wanted to go one step ahead and include them in the selection panel, which would in turn give them the voting rights along with the other two selectors.”

Andy and Vettori work with the team all the time and that should help in picking the right combination."

On being asked about prospects of the Black Caps in the upcoming Champions Trophy, to be held in South Africa, Vaughan hoped of a good show.

"We are a very good one-day side. In the past, we have done extremely well in South Africa. I am confident of a good show in the CT."

Bureau Report