IPL 2010 to be hit by absence of Kiwi, Australian stars

Wellington (New Zealand), Oct.19 (ANI): New Zealand and Australian Test cricketers are likely to be unavailable for the first half of next year's Indian Premier League tournament.

The 2010 tournament is scheduled to run from March 12 to April 25, and will be returning to India after this year's tournament was shifted to South Africa due to security concerns.

But Australia's five-week tour of New Zealand will almost certainly result in a number of players being unavailable to represent their IPL franchises early in next year's tournament, stuff.co.nz reports.

The two-Test series will run until March 31, while the IPL group stage will go until April 19. (ANI)