Suresh Raina To Return To UAE For IPL 2020? N Srinivasan Has His Say

Updated - 02 Sep 2020, 10:13 PM

N Srinivasan (Credits: Twitter)

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Chennai Super Kings owner N Srinivasan on Wednesday said it’s not in his domain to decide whether Suresh Raina will be able to play Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 if the former India batsman decides to return to the team camp in the UAE. The former BCCI president made it clear that the final decision now rests on the team-management and captain MS Dhoni.

Last week, Suresh Raina sensationally left the team camp in UAE and returned to India citing personal reasons. The franchise also announced that their batting mainstay had pulled out of the entire competition. As soon as the news surfaced, several theories started doing the rounds with some reports even suggesting that there was a rift in the CSK camp.

However, Suresh Raina recently clarified that it was indeed personal reasons that prompted him to head back from the UAE. He also conceded that he was concerned about his family, referring to the positive Covid-19 cases in the CSK camp. Not only that, the former India allrounder went on to state that he could still join the team in UAE.

N Srinivasan on Suresh Raina:

While only time will tell whether Suresh Raina returns to UAE or not, Srinivasan has insisted he has no say on the matter. He also said he has treated the left-handed batsman like his son.

“I have treated him like one (son). The reason for CSK’s success in IPL over the years is because of the fact that the franchise never poked its nose into cricketing matters. India Cements has been running cricket since ’60s. I will always remain like that,” Srinivasan told PTI.

“Look, please understand, that that’s not my domain (whether Raina will come back or not) at all. We own a team, we own the franchise but we do not own players. Team is ours but the players are not. I don’t own the players.

“I am not the cricket captain. I have never told them (team management) whom to play, whom to take in the auction, never. We have the greatest captain of all times. So, why shall I even interfere in cricketing matters?,” he added.

IPL 2020 is scheduled to start on September 19 while the final is scheduled to take place on November 10. The full schedule is yet to be announced by the BCCI.