Sydney, Sep 8 (ANI): Australian pacer James Pattinson's preparation for the Test series against South Africa could be interrupted if he is summoned for Champions League Twenty20 duty by the Indian Premier League team he has never represented.
The pacer, who said competition for places in Australia's attack would be fierce, expects to discover in the next fortnight whether the Kolkata Knight Riders want him for the event in South Africa from October 9-28, which would mean missing two of the four Sheffield Shield games preceding the first Test, at the Gabba from November 9.
Pattinson admitted the Champions League would be "'a tough obstacle, but you've got to manage it", The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Cricket Australia, which has a financial stake in the event, said it is has developed detailed plans for each player involved so their preparation will not be compromised.
"I will be definitely right for the first Shield game," said Pattinson, who was injured for this year's IPL and not picked for the previous one.
"There's a bit of concern over the Champions League. I'm with Kolkata so if they want me I will have to go and play Champions League in South Africa. There's been a lot of discussion about it, around the workloads and stuff like that. It's not an ideal situation but, then again, it is what it is and we have to deal with it," he said.
Two years ago Mike Hussey and Doug Bollinger arrived late for a Test series in India because of the Champions League. Bollinger was subsequently injured.
This time Cricket Australia will dictate that the quicks increase their workload, incorporating their CLT20 games into their training schedule. (ANI)
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