Watson hopes Symonds will opt for Australian team over IPL

Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has said that he hopes that Andrew Symonds would return to the national cricket side and not commit himself to the Indian Premier Leagues (IPL) second series this year, the schedule of which is to be finalized.

Sydney, Sept 2 : Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has said that he hopes that Andrew Symonds would return to the national cricket side and not commit himself to the Indian Premier League's (IPL) second series this year, the schedule of which is to be finalized.

Watson said this despite the fact he stands to benefit from Symonds' absence from the upcoming tour of India. With no Symonds, Watson would be in the frame to assume the all-rounder's role in the Aussie line-up for the four-Test series. The team for the India tour is expected to be announced on September 13.

Symonds is presently planning his future, whether to play for Australia or IPL, after being sent home from Darwin last weekend for a disciplinary reason for not attending an important meeting.

Symonds, who was left high and dry by his fellow team-mates following the racist remark against Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, has even been advised a rehabilitation program under the supervision of Cricket Australia (CA).

According to the Courier Mail, as one of the highest-paid players in the IPL, Symonds could command big money on the subcontinent for two months of cricket a year - even if he gave up on playing for his country.

But, Watson hoped that he won't go for IPL. "For my sake as a player, because I love watching him playing for Australia and for the general public as well, I hope that's not the way he goes because I don't want this to be the last time the Australian public is seeing Andrew Symonds playing," the paper quoted Watson as saying.

ANI