London, Apr 5 (UNI) England batsman Kevin Pietersen has called on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to create a gap the international calender to allow players to take part in the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL).

''It's not something we can control, but it's definitely something that the hierarchy needs to fix into our fixtures,'' Pietersen said. ''You want your best players playing both for their country and for the IPL. You don't want them choosing between the two.'' The lucrative new Twenty20 tournament has drawn top players from around the world but Englang stars such as Pietersen are unable to take advantage of the riches on offer due to the central contract with their board.

''It's silly to think that you're losing up to a million (dollars) over six weeks,'' he added.

Pietersen believes that officials should do all they can to allow English players to participate.

''As long as it doesn't interfere with me playing for England, then I'm all for the IPL,'' he said. ''I won't jeopardise my England career for the IPL just yet, but the schedules have to be sorted because the England players are the only ones missing out.

''There are guys in our team who could be earning a lot of money.'' UNI XC RKM AB VC1758