Australian captain Michael Clarke ruled out of IPL

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Australian captain Michael Clarke was today ruled out of IPL, starting next week, as he has been advised to take rest for at least seven weeks under the rehabilitation programme for his chronic back injury.

Clarke, who was bought by Pune Warriors for $4,00,000 in the IPL auctions early this year, underwent scans for his back and hamstring problems soon after he arrived home from India where his side suffered a humiliating 0-4 Test series whitewash.

Cricket Australia chief medical officer Justin Paoloni said that Clarke would need at least 7-10 weeks rest as part of rehabilitation programme for the degenerative disc problem that has afflicted him since 17 years of age.

Clarke missed the fourth and final Test against India in New Delhi, which Australia lost inside three days.

“Michael Clarke had scans that confirmed his current lower back injury is an exacerbation of previous issues he has had with his spine. Michael is having intensive rehabilitation for both his back and hamstring but is still 7-10 weeks away from returning to training and playing,” Paoloni said in a CA statement.

“As always, we need to manage this carefully as there are potentially serious consequences with further aggravation. He still has pain with basic activities and is not back to full function as yet,” he said.

“Michael’s intensive rehabilitation programme will be overseen by the CA medical team and back specialists in Australia,” he added.

Clarke’s injury status and the rehabilitation programme meant that he will miss the April 3-May 26 IPL. It also laid to rest speculations that he could be coaxed to captain Pune Warriors in the cash-rich Twenty20 League by offering $2 million following reluctance shown by Yuvraj Singh.