Australians closer to playing in IPL

The Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) believes the national players are likely to be allowed to participate in the initial stages of the Indian Premier League before beginning preparations for the tour of the West Indies in May.

The ACA said Cricket Australia has indicated there would be no objection to players taking part during the first 14 to16 days of the Twenty20 tournament in India, which begins on April 18. However, they would have to return to Australia for a training camp before leaving for the West Indies in the second week of May.

"I don't think there will be a problem," the ACA chief executive Paul Marsh told AFP. "Certainly based on our discussions with Cricket Australia to date I don't see any reason why they wouldn't be able to play in the IPL, assuming there are no other commitments to Cricket Australia."

The Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said the first priority was to ensure the team had adequate preparation for the tour of the West Indies. Australia are scheduled to play a warm-up match on May 16 ahead of the first Test in Kingston from May 22.