Clarke discussing IPL playing deal

Sydney, (AFP): Australia captain Michael Clarke has confirmed he is in talks to join Indian Premier League franchise Pune Warriors, reports said Monday.

Clarke told reporters before leaving Sunday to join the Australian team in the West Indies that his management was negotiating with Pune to play in the IPL.

The Australia skipper stayed behind and missed the one-day series in the Caribbean to treat a hamstring injury. “That opportunity has been presented to my management company and I,” Clarke was quoted in newspapers Monday.

“Right now they’re discussing it. We will continue to talk about that and make a decision in due course. But my focus right now is to make sure I get back and play some good cricket for Australia.”

Clarke has so far resisted the lure of playing in the rich competition but came close in 2009 before withdrawing from the IPL auction to focus on playing for Australia.

Last week former India Test captain Sourav Ganguly, who is the Pune club skipper, confirmed that the franchise was poised to secure the services of Clarke in May. Australian Test players will miss the first three weeks of the Indian domestic tournament but will be available for the final month of May.

Clarke said he had come through an intense couple of weeks of physiotherapy in great shape and would be ready for the first Test against the West Indies in Barbados, starting on April 7.