Clarke decides to miss out on IPL 2009

Melbourne, Feb.5 (ANI): Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke has ruled himself out of this year's Indian Premier League, citing Australia's busy international schedule.

"I won't be going to the IPL. The most important thing for me is we've only got a couple of weeks off; we've got a very busy schedule. With me, with my body and time with my family, I want time off this year,'' Fox Sports quoted Clarke, as saying.

Clarke, however, described the Twenty20 format as wonderful for the development of cricket in the long term, and added he could understand why so many other players did want to play in the Indian competition.

"It's a wonderful thing for cricket, it's definitely improved Twenty20 cricket, its played a part in improving one day cricket,'' he said.

"The lead up to the Twenty20 World Championships is the IPL so it's good preparation so it does not surprise me that a lot of players are going.'' (ANI)