Chennai Super Kings

Flintoff may skip IPL to stay fit for Ashes

After a nagging hip injury forced him to return home mid-way from the Test series against the West Indies, England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff hinted he may skip the lucrative Indian Premier League to stay fit to take on the Australians in the Ashes series.

Flintoff, who was bagged by IPL’s Chennai Super Kings side for a record $1.55 million, has insisted that representing England is of utmost importance to him and is currently eying the forthcoming ODI series against the West Indies to stage a comeback.

“It seems that, at the minute, everybody is going on about the IPL. It’s a hot topic. But I want to play for England in this upcoming one-day series.

“The IPL is still a few weeks away and my goal is to play for England and, after that, the IPL will take care of itself. It’s something I want to play in, but my ultimate goal is playing for England,” the 31-year-old cricketer was quoted as saying in the Daily Telegraph.

Flintoff will now undergo a rehabilitation programme and is scheduled to reunite with the team on March 10, if fitness permits.

Tags: andrew flintoff, Chennai Super Kings, england, IPL