Injury may put Flintoff in doubt for IPL

There is a possibility Andrew Flintoff may not play for the Chennai Super Kings in the 2009 season of the IPL if it will endanger his chances of turning out for England during the summer. ECB chief executive David Collier said the board would be "concerned if any player was carrying an injury that may affect his participation in the Ashes series".

"There are medical clauses. The IPL are very responsible in that area and we have very, very strong relationships with Chennai," Collier said. "Andrew's own team will also be looking at the injury prognosis. We would need to review it, obviously this has only just happened. But there are injury provisions in both sides of the contracts."

Flintoff, who was bought for a record $1.55 million by the Chennai Super Kings at the IPL auction, is currently suffering from a hip injury and is set to miss England's fourth Test against West Indies beginning in Barbados on February 26. His progress is being monitored in the hope that he will be fit for the final Test in Trinidad, which starts on March 6, and the five ODIs that follow.

England's tour of West Indies ends on April 3 and Flintoff will be available to play in the IPL, which begins on April 10, for three weeks before the home series against West Indies from May 6. That series is followed by the World Twenty20 in England and the Ashes.