NEWS
Follow UsAustralia limited-overs captain Aaron Finch reckons that it will be difficult for those to justify their participation in the second half of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 after pulling out of the West Indies and Bangladesh tours. David Warner, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Marcus Stoinis and Daniel Sams had pulled out the the West Indies and Bangladesh (if confirmed) tours for various reasons. While it was a 'long term plan' for Cummins and Warner to miss the tours, Finch says that he is surprised by the other players' decision to opt out.
"The other guys I was a little bit surprised. I've chatted to them all a little bit surprised but it's also understandable but I wish that they were there," Finch said, according to Cricket.com.au.
Asked about those who pulled out, Finch said, "I think they would find it hard to justify going back and playing that second half of the IPL. Just purely based on the workload coming up with a T20 World Cup and a huge home summer."
"It's really tough. It's a tough situation that everyone has been put in, but personally, I would find it hard to do that knowing how difficult it is and how challenging it is mentally, and on your family as well. That's what I would think," he added.
Star batsman Steven Smith was also not included in the squad as he is yet to fully recover from an elbow injury that flared up during the IPL. Earlier this week, Australia chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns made it clear that he expects the country's IPL players to forgo the high-profile T20 league starting mid-September if a tri-series involving West Indies and Afghanistan is scheduled at the same time.
The absence of the top players means veteran Dan Christian, Big Bash League stars Ben McDermott, Wes Agar and Riley Meredith will get an opportunity to prove themselves at the international level. "The guys who aren't there have probably left the door slightly ajar. What that looks like when the T20 World Cup comes around, we'll have to wait and see," Finch said.
"But if you can get on the international stage against a very good West Indies side and Bangladesh team (and perform well), it carries a lot of weight."
(With inputs from PTI)
