Clarke pulls out of IPL auction

Michael Clarke has withdrawn from Friday's Indian Premier League player auction, citing Australia's hectic international schedule and a need for rest.

Australia's vice-captain, expected to attract one of the highest bids in the second IPL auction and with a $1 million reserve, announced his decision to skip the lucrative Twenty20 tournament on Thursday.

"The most important thing for me is we've only got a couple of weeks off, we've got a very busy schedule," Clarke said. "With me, with my body and time with my family, I want time off this year."

Clarke is coming off Test series losses in India and against South Africa at home.

Australia will play three Tests in South Africa starting later this month, a limited-overs series against Pakistan and the Ashes series and Twenty20 World Cup in England in the middle of the year.

Leading players from around the world have IPL contracts and the first auction last year resulted in million dollar-plus contracts.

The eight teams spent a combined $42 million on 75 players at the initial auction in Mumbai. Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds was the most expensive of the foreign acquisitions, going to Hyderabad for $1.35 million.

English players did not participate in the inaugural IPL, but Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff are among those involved in the auction at Goa on Friday.

Clarke, who shared Australia's player of the year award with skipper Ricky Ponting, said he could understand the appeal of the IPL in the April-May window.

"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. It does not surprise me that a lot of players are going."