'Players skipping national duties to play IPL would be hard to justify' - Aaron Finch

Australia are set to play back to back away series against West Indies and Bangladesh. However, the Aaron Finch-led side will be without the services of their stalwarts, including David Warner, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Marcus Stoinis and Daniel Sams, who have pulled out of the tours due to various reasons. While it had been a "long term plan" for Warner and Cummins, the decision of other players to give the tours a skip has left Australia skipper Aaron Finch baffled.

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"The other guys - I was a little bit surprised," Finch was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au on SEN Radio. 

"I've chatted to them all - a little bit surprised but it's also understandable ... but I wish that they were there."

Finch further reckons that if the players go on and play the second leg of IPL, it will be hard for them to justify their decision as Australia have a busy schedule ahead and players need to manage their workload.

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"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".

Earlier, Australia chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns revealed that IPL bound Australian players should forgo the high profile T20 extravaganza if a tri-series involving West Indies and Afghanistan is scheduled at the same time. The absence of star players means that several young Australian players and BBL stars will get an opportunity to showcase their skills at the international arena.

"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," concluded Finch

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Wes Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Dan Christian, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.