Outgoing ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat says the world body will not consider the idea of incorporating the Indian Premier League into the Future Tours Programme, as such a concession would mean creating windows for other domestic T20 leagues as well.
"The consequence of that (an IPL window) is what do we do with the Big Bash League? What do we do with other premier leagues -- Sri Lanka is launching one, Bangladesh has one," Lorgat said on Wednesday.
- Lorgat presents ICC ODI Shield to Australia
"I know people might say the IPL is the premier league, but once you provide a window for one particular member, you have to be conscious of the fact you may well have to do it for other members. Hence, why we have not been supportive of a window specifically for any one of those domestic leagues." He added.
The clashing of dates for this year's tournament has forced some of the West Indies players to choose between the IPL and their home Test series against Australia and similar could be the case next time as well, with New Zealand scheduled to tour England for Tests in a year that also features an Ashes series in England.
New Zealand are due to visit England during the second half of the Indian Premier League.
Lorgat was in Melbourne to present Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland the ICC's ODI shield as Australia finished on top of the One-Day International rankings at the end of the 2011-12 season.
Sutherland said national boards are doing what they can to allow their
players to take part in the IPL.
"I think there's a notional window already for the IPL. I think it exists. There's an inevitability around some overlap and countries are working around that to the best of their ability.
"There are challenges ultimately; it's been raised with clashes from time to time. But I think there's a national window that most countries are working with and around, in order to allow their players the opportunity to play in IPL," Sutherland said.
