Injured Flintoff feeling heat to skip IPL

Injured England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is feeling heat to skip the Indian Premier League after Australia skipper Ricky Ponting opted out of the event to keep himself fresh for Ashes series and the Twenty20 World Cup.

Flintoff, 31, injured his hip during England’s third Test against the West Indies and have been ruled out of the fourth Test following a scan.

The all-rounder, who has been lapped up by IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings in the players’ auction for a record US$ 1.55 million, expects to be back for the final Test but already a growing chorus wants Flintoff to stay away from the Twenty20 event and save his best for the Ashes.

The England players are available for a three-week window.

Meanwhile, one of the English cricketers who signed up for the lucrative tournament made it clear that he is going to take part in the IPL.

“Ponting can do what he likes. I’m playing in IPL, end of story,” he said.

However, with a host of Australian players deciding to stay away from the IPL this season, the England and Wales Cricket Board seems to be in a fix over the workload of their players.