08 June,2009 08:27 AM IST | | Agencies
Former Test captain Kim Hughes believes Andrew Symonds does not deserve any more chances after the allrounder left the Australian Twenty20 team "in the lurch".
"In sporting terms, he's done the worst thing imaginable, he's gone back on his commitments to his teammates. It's un-Australian," Hughes was quoted on the Herald Sun website.
But Symonds has the backing of his state association, with Queensland Cricket boss Graham Dixon declaring he wants Symonds on board this summer.
Queensland is prepared to offer Symonds one more chance. Asked if they wanted Symonds at the Bulls next summer, Dixon said: "Certainly. Andrew has been representing us since he was 17, so half of his life, he's been part of the Queensland cricket family. We like the bloke and we want to help him through this issue."
Dixon said he was more concerned about Symonds's mental state. "Our No. 1 priority is Andrew Symonds, the bloke," he said. "Andrew has to weigh up what sort of cricket he wants to play."
With his international career ostensibly over, it has been speculated that Symonds would quit Australian cricket and earn a living by playing in the Indian Premier League, where he commands $1.5 million for six weeks' work.
