New Zealand's England Series to Clash with IPL

London: New Zealand's tour of England next year is likely to overlap with the 2013 IPL season, forcing the likes of captain Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori to choose which series to take part in. Next year's IPL is set to start on April 3 and is expected to run till the end of May, while New Zealand's warm-up matches begin on May 4.

The clash in schedules seems to violate the terms of the eight-year agreement between NZC, the players' association and the six major domestic associations that called for a clear IPL window for New Zealand's cricketers.

Since the deal was signed in August 2010, there has been only one IPL season during which there were no international commitments for New Zealand's players. Five New Zealand cricketers - Vettori, Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum and Jesse Ryder - currently on a central contract have signed up with IPL franchises.

So far New Zealand, unlike West Indies, have not had to field a weakened side due to the IPL.

Schedule of NZ's England tour in 2013

• May 04-06: Three-day game v Derbyshire
• May 09-12: four-day game v England Lions
• May 16-20 First Test
• May 24-28: Second Test
• May 31: First ODI
• June 02: Second ODI
• June 05: Third ODI
• June 22: T20 v Kent
• June 25: First T20
• June 27: Second T20

Note: The Champions Trophy will be played between the ODIs and the T20s