'It's a lot of cricket, but just play'

Sourav Ganguly offered advice Tuesday for cricketers worried the short turnaround between the Indian Premier League and the World Cup could leave them fatigued -- just enjoy it while you can.

The gruelling Twenty20 tournament starts Saturday and runs flat-out for nearly six weeks, leaving barely any breathing room before the World Cup gets underway on May 30.

Coaches and captains are preparing for star players to be recalled from the IPL by their national cricket boards for a rest in the days before the game's biggest spectacle gets underway in England and Wales.

But Ganguly, one of India's most successful former skippers and special adviser to the Delhi Capitals IPL team, said those fretting about timetables and fatigue should "just play".

"Yes, it is a lot of cricket, but just play. You don't play forever," he told reporters in Delhi.

"I have always said there is a limited time to play the sport and when you are getting the opportunity at the international level and the IPL level, these will not come back.

"So just find a way to get rest, get fresh... make the most of it."