First domestic cricket then IPL, BCCI tells India's domestic players

The Board of Control for Cricket in India issued a circular to all its 27 affiliated units asking them to ensure the Indian Premier League-contracted players appear for their domestic teams instead of joining the franchises to prepare for the T20 tournament, starting in UAE next month.

The five zones will organise their respective Twenty20 leagues from March 30 to April 5. But, with the IPL set to start in the UAE from April 16, most of the franchises were looking to get the Indian domestic players for preparatory camps.

- IPL 2014: UAE first leg schedule

The West Zone league will be played in Mumbai from March 30, Central Zone teams will compete in Nagpur from March 31. North, South and East Zone leagues will start in Chandigarh, Vijayawada and Kolkata respectively from April 1.

Sources said the Board has asked all the affiliates to make sure that all players, including the ones involved with IPL, play in the domestic T20 league.

The move appears to be a setback for IPL franchises who will enter the tournament with fully revamped sides following the full auction.

The state teams who will make it for the Super League for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, to be played in Mumbai and Rajkot from April 8, will, however, have to play without their IPL players.

The top two teams from each zone qualify for the Super League.