The costliest player on the Indian Premier League roster, England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will skip the cash-rich event's third edition in March-April as he recuperates from a knee surgery, which has also ruled him out of the World Twenty20 Championships this summer.
In a statement issued through his agent Andrew Chandler, Flintoff said the routine arthroscopy on his injured left knee will keep him him off the field for the next six months.
Flintoff, who was bought for a whopping $1.55 million by Chennai Super Kings in the IPL auction last year, underwent the original knee surgery the day after England regained the Ashes last summer, the time when he also announced his Test retirement.
He later went freelance, turning down an incremental contract offered by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
"It is disappointing not to be able to play for Chennai, who have been very supportive throughout my time with them, but I took this decision because I love playing cricket and want to give myself the best chance of extending my career," he said.
"I have worked extremely hard over the last few months to get to this position and realise there is a lot more hard work in front of me if I want to return and play international cricket again," he added.
{{/usCountry}}"I have worked extremely hard over the last few months to get to this position and realise there is a lot more hard work in front of me if I want to return and play international cricket again," he added.
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