Freddie heading for a showdown with ECB bosses over IPL

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Barbados (West Indies), Feb.23 (ANI): England all rounder Andrew Flintoff could be heading for a showdown with ECB bosses over playing in the Indian Premier League.Freddie, 31, is struggling with a hip problem that will keep him out of Thursday's Fourth Test against West Indies and maybe more matches.

ECB chief executive David Collier confirmed that the board has the power to withdraw Flintoff from the IPL on medical grounds.

Flintoff has been signed up by the Chennai Super Kings for a record price of 1.55 million pounds, making him the joint most valuable cricketer in history with Kevin Pietersen.

The ECB have agreed to a three-week IPL window for England's Test players starting on April 10 so, in reality, he will receive around 540,000 pounds from the Chennai Super Kings.

Collier said: "We'd be concerned if any player was carrying an injury that may affect his participation in the Ashes. There are medical clauses in Andrew's contract. The IPL are very responsible in that area."

Flintoff's decision on the IPL will be revealing, reports The Sun.

Does he feel that, as he is coming towards the end of his top-level career, he owes it to himself and his family to earn as much as he can? Or does he believe that he should not risk injury or burnout at the start of an Ashes summer? (ANI)