7 of Australia's top cricketers have opted out of tours of West Indies and Bangladesh.
Bowling great, Shane Warne said that cricket boards shouldn't consider players 'worthy' of international matches if they choose IPL over national duty.
Shane Warne’s comments came after several Australian players pulled out of the white-ball tours to West Indies and Bangladesh but may feature in the second half of the IPL 2021, which will start in September.
Speaking on the Road to Ashes podcast, former Australian spinner Shane Warne said that he doesn't begrudge players choosing to earn as much money as they can but if they choose to play IPL over playing for the country then it’s not worth picking such guys in the squad.
He added that if that happens players will miss Test matches and will pick money over representing the country.
Ashton Agar not surprised by reports of top Australia stars pulling out of future tours
"I don't begrudge the players getting, it's fantastic. If they want to take the money, (let them) take it. But if you want to play cricket for your country and (still) you choose to play the IPL over your country, then maybe it's not worth picking those guys.
“Otherwise this is going to happen, people are going to rest and miss Test matches and miss representing your country to go and play for money,” Shane Warne said.
Shane Warne further said that Test cricket provides players with the real opportunity to test themselves. He added that the choice to play in the IPL should come at the price of this opportunity.
“It's pretty hard, you know if, someone says here's three million bucks and play for a short term or go over somewhere and play for six weeks being away from your family, it's a very easy decision to take that money.
“But if you value yourself as a cricketer and want to test yourself against the best, there's only one spot to do it and that’s international cricket, especially Test cricket.
“If you want to choose the money, that's fine, no problem, but you might have to wait for a few Test matches and you might go down a few runs no matter how good you are because there's always someone that can replace you," he said.