IPL: Lee, Symonds set to lose millions

Andrew Symonds and Brett Lee's call-up for the ODI series against Pakistan came not without a price and the Australian duo are set to miss out on US $1.75 million of Indian Premier League (IPL) money, according to reports in Melbourne.

The call-up revived the international career of both the Australians but at the same time, limited their availability for the second edition of the IPL starting in South Africa on April 18.

According to a report by the Australian Associated Press (AAP), Symonds would have earned US $1.91 on current exchange rates from his franchise Deccan Chargers.

Now even if he rushes to South Africa after playing six matches against Pakistan in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Symonds would earn about US $842,000, thus losing more than a million.

Lee, who is recovering from ankle and foot surgery, runs the risk of missing the entire IPL, thus losing US $82,000 per match.

Lee's manager Neil Maxwell, however, asserted that the bowler's priority is to return to the national squad and he would not mind skipping the Twenty20 tournament if the medical staff advise so.

 "It is a matter of the Australian medical team having a look at him while he is in front of them," Maxwell said.

"The plan for him is to come back and be 100 per cent for the Ashes [starting in July]," he added.