Australian Test and one-day captain Michael Clarke will play in the Indian Premier League for the first time after agreeing to join Pune Warriors.
Clarke had previously shunned the riches of the IPL to concentrate on playing for his country.
The 30-year-old will miss the opening three weeks of the fifth IPL to skipper Australia in their three-Test series in the West Indies before making his debut in the Twenty20 tournament.
"We are thrilled to have Michael Clarke on board," said Sushanto Roy, the managing director of Pune's owners Sahara Adventure Sports Ltd.
"The reigning Australian skipper is one of the world's best cricketers. His presence in the side, and cricketing proficiency, will boost the prospects of Pune Warriors India in the DLF IPL 2012."
Clarke had revealed he was in discussions with Pune before he flew out to join the Australian team in the Caribbean at the weekend.
The right-hander, who retired from international Twenty20 cricket last year, missed the opening one-day international series against West Indies due to a hamstring injury.
However, after a brilliant Australian summer with the bat - in which he led his side to a 4-0 Test series rout of India - he is fit ahead of a busy schedule that will see him travel to England for an ODI series after the IPL.
"Clarke was exceptional in the recent Test series against India, as batsman and captain," IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla said.
"He is a very popular cricketer in India and followers of the sport are looking forward to his participation."
Clarke joins an already strong-looking Pune side led by former India captain Sourav Ganguly and also including the likes of Graeme Smith, Yuvraj Singh and Angelo Mathews.
AP
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