Chennai, April 06: Last year`s runners-up Chennai Super Kings have decided to take a full-strength 27-member squad to South Africa as they attempt to go one better in the second edition of the Indian Premier League that kicks off on April 18.
Super Kings selector and former India player V B Chandrasekar said they did not want to leave anything to chance and that was the reason the team management decided to take all 27 players to South Africa.
"We are taking all the 27 players giving provision for replacements in case of injuries to players during the tournament and we have a training programme fixed in South Africa," Chandrasekar said.
His views were endorsed by team owner and BCCI secretary N Srinivasan.
"It is important to have the best. You must realise that the IPL has transcended boundaries and borders. We should not be looking at local or foreign. This is our team and we want the best and we are sure to better our last year`s performance," he said.
The Super Kings are scheduled to leave for South Africa on Wednesday morning to provide the players a week`s time to acclimatise with the conditions there.
The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side face Mumbai Indians in the first match in Cape Town on April 18.
On Australian batsman Michael Hussey`s availability, Srinivasan refused to elaborate but said it depends on players` international commitments.
The Australian left-hander has already decided to skip the second edition of the IPL but said he may join the team if it qualifies for the knock-out stage.
Srinivasan also expressed delight at Andrew Flintoff`s availability and said the star England all-rounder`s inclusion has made the team more composed.
"Every player is important to our team. All the players are important and valuable, some are more experienced and some have more skill and talent. In that respect Flintoff brings a lot to the team composition. Therefore, we are naturally delighted that he is part of our team, which already has a wealth of talent," he said.
The squad:
Local players (11): Napoleon Einsteen, Suresh Kumar, Arun Karthik, Abhinav Mukund, Anirudha Srikkanth, Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan, Murali Vijay, Ramachandran Ashwin, Palani Amarnath, Subramaniam Badrinath and Lakshmipathi Balaji.
Outstation players (6): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Sudeep Tyagi, Parthiv Patel, Joginder Sharma, Suresh Raina and Manpreet Singh Gony.
Foreign players (10): George Bailey, Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey (all Australia); Stephen Fleming (coach-cum-player), Jacob Oram (both New Zealand); Thilan Thushara, Muttiah Muralitharan (both Sri Lanka); Albie Morkel, Makhaya Ntini (South Africa) and Andrew Flintoff (England)
Officials: Greg King (trainer, South Africa), Tom Simsek (physio, Australia), Roney Parry (masseur, Australia) and Russel Radhakrishnan (manager).
Bureau Report