Warne's IPL call

Aussie star says ICC should plan tours around the IPL.

Last updated: 28th February 2008

Warne's IPL call

Warne: IPL star

What I like about the IPL is that it goes a step further by opening the Champions League. The IPL is here to stay.

Shane Warne
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Shane Warne says the International Cricket Council should plan their cricket calendar around the new Indian Premier League.

Warne will coach and captain Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur for the inaugural IPL season, and the retired Test star believes the ICC should give the priority due respect.

The former Australian spinner says the ICC's Future Tours Programme (FTP) should be planned around the IPL in order to allow the best players in the world to be free to take part in the Twenty20 competition.

38-year-old Warne believes the IPL will be a huge success, and needs the best players in the world to be available to play.

"The ICC should plan its FTP around the IPL," Wane told The Hindu newspaper.

"It's the most exciting thing to have happened to world cricket and the ICC must make sure that the best players in the world are available.

"What I like about the IPL is that it goes a step further by opening the Champions League. The IPL is here to stay."

Big money

Warne was bought by the Jaipur franchise for $450,000 in the player auction, which saw huge sums of money bid for the big-name players.

Such lucrative contracts has duly attracted the best players in the world to the IPL, and Warne is relishing the prospect of play with, and against, the best in the business.

"I am going to pick the brains of Graeme Smith, who is captain of South Africa, and Younus Khan who has been captain of Pakistan," Warne added.

"Mohammad Kaif is an exceptional batsman. They all bring experience to the table. I am going to work with Greg Chappell, who I have found to be amazing.

"I'm looking forward to six weeks of exciting cricket with the Jaipur franchise and India, and working with the local and junior cricketers."

The IPL will begin on April 18 with Kolkata taking on Bangalore.