NZ Cricket to get millions from IPL franchises

New Zealand cricket will get a million dollars if Central Districts' three Indian Premier League players are wanted by their franchises for Champions League in South Africa.

Ross Taylor (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Jacob Oram (Chennai Super Kings) and Graham Napier (Mumbai Indians) are eligible to play for both their IPL teams and New Zealand representatives Central Districts, but a clause in the IPL players' contracts means the Indians get the first choice.

In return, the IPL teams would have to pay NZC 342,000 New Zealand dollars per player as compensation.

Taylor is a regular for Bangalore and is almost certain to be protected in their squad, The Dominion Post reports.

He has also qualified for Victoria and may do the same with English county Durham but has said that he will play for Central Districts in the Champions League if not required by Bangalore.

Oram was injured and didn't play a match for IPL winners Chennai but his all-round qualities make him a valuable performer when in form.

"If his home team in England qualify, then that's where the payment would be made," Players Association boss Heath Mills said.

If Essex didn't qualify and Mumbai want Napier, Mills said he would doubt if Central would profit, Stuff.co.nz reports.

Mills is negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with NZC and it had not yet been decided how Champions League money would be split up between the provinces.