March 14, 2008	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 5, 1429

MELBOURNE, March 13: Australia’s Test players are set to be allowed to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) before preparing at home for the May tour to the West Indies, the players’ union said on Thursday.

The Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) said Cricket Australia (CA) has indicated there will be no objection to Test stars Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, Andrew Symonds, Matthew Hayden and Michael Hussey playing in the first 14-16 days of the six-week IPL tournament, starting on April 18.

They will then be required back home for a team camp before the touring party sets off for the West Indies in the second week of May.

“I don’t think there will be a problem,” said ACA chief executive Paul Marsh.

“Certainly based on our discussions with CA to date I don’t see any reason why they wouldn’t be able to play in the IPL, assuming that there are no other commitments to CA,” he said.

CA spokesman Peter Young said the governing body was in the process of going through details and options, which include the possibility of practice matches before the West Indies tour.

“Our first priority is to ensure the team has appropriate preparation for the tour of the West Indies,” he stated.

Meanwhile, fast bowler Brett Lee said the IPL would serve as the perfect warm-up for the West Indies series.

“To continue playing cricket would be the best thing for us,” Lee said. “I think any cricket is great preparation for a tour. As long as you’re out there batting or bowling, and being out in the field.”

Australia’s opening tour match in the West Indies is scheduled to start on May 16 ahead of the opening Test in Kingston, Jamaica, on May 22.—AFP