Clarke keen on playing IPL

EDINBURGH - Despite a jam-packed international cricket schedule, Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke says he is keen to try his hand at the Indian Premier League.

Having missed the first two tournaments, the Australian vice-captain indicated he would consider taking part in 2010, believing it could provide ideal preparation for the ICC World Twenty20, which starts five days after the April 25 IPL final.

“For me it’s about timing,” Clarke told reporters in Edinburgh, where he was preparing to lead Australia in a one-day match against Scotland while Ricky Ponting takes a break in Australia.

“Certainly the positive I see about the IPL is it leads into the Twenty20 world championship, so it’s very good preparation for all the guys playing in the IPL, they’ll have a lot of Twenty20 cricket going into the world championship,” the Daily Telegraph quoted him as saying further.

“At some stage, I definitely want to take part in the IPL. It’s been a wonderful tournament, it’s helped a lot of players. It’s given guys an opportunity to be on the big stage and put their hand up … I’d definitely like to take part in it at some stage, I just need to work out when’s the right time and hopefully (IPL Commissioner) Lalit (Modi) will let me play,” he added.

Reports suggested Modi, angered by Clarke’s withdrawal from the IPL for a second time in as many years, threatened the Australian with a ban from future participation.

Clarke is only three months into what could turn out to be an 11-month stint of cricket.

Already he has been part of a demoralising group-stage exit from the World Twenty20 and a painful 2-1 Ashes series defeat to England.

The Scotland game was preparation for two Twenty20 matches and then seven one-dayers against England before the Australians head to South Africa for the ICC champions Trophy. (ANI)