NZC chief says IPL has helped develop Kiwi players and coaches

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Geoff Allott says the IPL has given Kiwi players and coaches a chance to work in high-performance environments. He was speaking ahead of India's tour, which starts October 22 and features a record number of matches. More than 85,000 tickets have already been sold.

Allott called the IPL a world-leading tournament run by the BCCI. He pointed to Stephen Fleming, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel as examples of New Zealand coaches who've succeeded overseas. Indian and Kiwi coaches connect on a level that goes beyond cricket, he added.

He also said groundsmen in New Zealand have worked to produce balanced wickets that allow proper contests between quality sides. The country has made a deliberate choice not to prepare seam-friendly surfaces that might disadvantage visiting teams.