Melbourne, Jan 20 : The Australian Cricketers Association has claimed that the Cricket Australia's handling of Mathew Hayden's case was "inconsistent," and has advised players of Board leveling financial penalties if they are injured during the Indian Premier League.

Hayden had his pay cut by Cricket Australia in an apparent warning to star players that they compete in the Indian Premier League at their own risk.

In an unprecedented case, Hayden had his lucrative CA retainer slashed after being sent home from Australia's tour of the West Indies last May with an achilles tendon injury.

CA officials believed Hayden had suffered or exacerbated the injury while playing for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League last April, the Daily Telegraph reported.

CA enacted a clause in its Overseas Club Playing Agreement to deny Hayden a portion of his retainer and any compensation or insurance for missing the Caribbean tour.

It is believed Hayden claimed he should not have had his pay docked because he suffered his chronic tendon injury throughout his distinguished 16-year international career.

"Our issue was that we believed it was inconsistent with how similar issues of this nature had been handled previously. Our proposal to CA was that Matthew not be penalised by Cricket Australia in this instance," ACA boss Paul Marsh said.

"We have used this opportunity to educate players that CA may financially penalise them if there are issues of this nature going forward. It is far from the biggest issue that we are dealing with, but we would like to ensure that the correct principles are met," he added.

Hayden, who will draw on his own experiences to highlight player welfare issues, wants to play a role in Australian cricket's next Memorandum of Understanding. (ANI)