SYDNEY, Australia (AP):

AUSTRALIA'S LEADING cricketers are expected to be available for the start of the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament next month after the tour to Pakistan was postponed.

Australian Cricketers Asso-ciation chief executive Paul Marsh said that Cricket Australia (CA) has indicated there will be no objection to Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, Andrew Symonds, Matthew Hayden and Michael Hussey playing the first 14-16 days of the six-week tournament, which starts on April 18.

"I don't think there will be a problem," Marsh said yesterday. "Certainly based on our discussions with Cricket Australia to date I don't see any reason why they wouldn't be able to play in the IPL, assuming that there are no other commitments to Cricket Australia."

Cricket Australia is still in the process of going through details and options, which include the possibility of practice matches before the West Indies tour in mid-May.

"Our first priority is to ensure the team has appropriate preparation for the tour of the West Indies," CA spokesman Peter Young said.

At the very least, the Australian players will be required back in Australia for a team camp before the West Indies tour.