Indian T20 leagues' affecting international teams: McCullum

Auckland, Feb 5 (UNI) New Zealand's stand-in skipper Brendon McCullum has admitted that Indian Twenty20 cricket leagues' have affected the international teams world over.

New Zealand team lost their pace spearhead Shane Bond to the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) and fear more players would follow the pacer's footsteps.

''To lose Shane was very very disappointing but he has his reasons and we've got to learn to function without him as we have done in the past.

''We can't really afford to lose any more players to the Indian leagues, but you're always worried about it,'' McCullum said.

He added that the youngsters are the ones who would suffer the most with the introduction of such leagues which offer huge amounts for the shortest version of the game.

''I guess the guys on the fringe are the ones most at risk but at the same time you hope the environment you create leads to guys wanting to hold on that bit longer.

''We do need to hold on to as much depth as we possibly can because we don't have talent to burn,'' he said.

Black caps all-rounder Scott Styris has also announced his retirement from Test cricket in order to focus on the shorter version of the games.

England captain Paul Collingwood, too, acknowledged that the shortest form of the game has become big in double-quick time but added that England Cricket board is looking after it's players quite well.

''We are very comfortable playing for England and love having the three lions on our shirts when we play.

''It has not really been an option for us to go to India because we are well looked after by the ECB, but of course there are massive incentives and people will think about it,'' he added.

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