McCullum eyes NZ captaincy over IPL by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

---

Player:

BB McCullum, JDP Oram

---

DateLine: 2nd August 2009

 

His ambitions of captaining the New Zealand team in near future was the reason why Brendon McCullum agreed to avoid IPL's monetary gains next year and sign the central contract.

 

The swashbuckling batsman said that he did not want to sign for the IPL since that might go against him when the selectors sit down to pick incumbent Daniel Vettori's successor.

 

"I would have hoped it wouldn't count against me (being captain in the future if I hadn't signed) based on the fact you have a right to sign or not to sign a contract without retribution," McCullum told 'Sunday News'.

 

"But yes, I want to captain New Zealand at some point in time I'd dearly love that honour. It's an ambition of mine and I think the time will come when I'm good and ready," he said.

 

Thw wicketkeeper though admitted that the decision to forego close to 500,000 dollars for a month's work was not easy.

 

"I'm not going to lie, it was tough. The cold, hard facts are there for anyone to see," he said.

 

"It wasn't that I didn't want to play cricket for New Zealand but I guess the immediate financial security that sort of money can provide for your family was a factor," he added.

 

McCullum's teammate Jacob Oram also admitted that it was tough to decide on the matter.

 

"You can criticise us for our hesitation but we have all signed," Oram told the Sunday Star-Times.

 

"We're not getting paid any compensation; we're not leaving after day three of the second Test against Australia. We've thought about it long and hard and we want to keep playing for New Zealand. You cannot begrudge us the time to think about it and discuss with our wives, families, mentors," he added.