Hughes eager to play in IPL despite threats

Left-handed opener Phillip Hughes is eager to take part in this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) after he made himself available for the January 19 auction despite Shiv Sena's threat to the Australian cricketers.

Unfazed by Shiv Sena's warning of not allowing Australian cricketers to play in this year's IPL until attacks on Indians stop Down Under, Hughes said he will be part of the auction to feature a total of 11 Aussies, including Brad Haddin, Doug Bollinger and Peter Siddle among others.

"I'm in the auction, and that's only in a few days' time, so we'll see how that goes," Hughes was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.

"It's (the IPL) something I'd love to be involved in. I've watched the last couple of years of the IPL and the crowds and the buzz around it. I'll go in the auction next Tuesday, and just see what happens," he said.

However, both the Australian government and Cricket Australia have taken the threat "very seriously" but has left it on the players to decide whether they want to travel to India for the lucrative Twenty20 tournament in March. Hughes also said although he is open for the auction, his decision whether to travel to India or not will depend on CA's feedback.

"I only heard about that in the last couple of days, and I haven't heard enough about that to comment on. The advice from Cricket Australia you always get is great, and you really listen in there, and I suppose it comes down to your own personal (decision) if you want to travel or not.

"If I did happen to go, for example to the IPL in India, the advice you get from Cricket Australia and the players' association -- from the top -- you just go from there," he said.