Australia's middle-order batsman Michael Hussey has joined the list of Australian players who have withdrawn from this month's Indian Premier League tournament in South Africa. Rather than playing for IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings, he preferred to spend time at home with his family ahead of the Ashes tour in July. Yesterday (3rd April), Hussey said that, he had negotiated with CSK to skip the five-week tournament starting on April 18.

 

He spoke to the franchise management and asked for the time off to be with family as his playing schedule has been very busy, Hussey said. But he made it clear that, he will be available, if CSK makes it into the semi-finals and final. Earlier, Australian captain Ricky Ponting, vice-captain Michael Clarke and fast bowler Mitch Johnson have already decided not to play this year's IPL.

 

Meanwhile, Australia's selectors may also decide to rest the 33-year-old batsman, Hussey from the one-day international series against Pakistan in Dubai starting later this month. Cricket Australia's selectors are set to announce a squad next week for the one-day series against Pakistan.