India comes first for Ajinkya Rahane, then follows IPL

India's stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane insists that his squad's focus is on two Twenty20 internationals against Zimbabwe and not the turmoil rocking the Indian Premier League

Harare: India's stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane insists that his squad's focus is on two Twenty20 internationals against Zimbabwe and not the turmoil rocking the Indian Premier League.


India skipper Ajinkya Rahane (centre) leads his team off the field after winning the second ODI vs Zimbabwe at Harare on Sunday. Pic/AFP 

The Justice Lodhar Committee announced on Tuesday that the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals would be suspended from the IPL for two years over illegal betting leaving players from the two franchises unsure of a contract next year.

Rahane is one of five affected players who could take the field against Zimbabwe in today's first T20, along with his Rajasthan teammates Stuart Binny, Dhawal Kulkarni and Sanju Samson, and Chennai seamer Mohit Sharma. "My only focus is on these two T20s — I'm not thinking about the IPL," Rahane said yesterday.

"If you represent your country, your only aim is to give your best for your country and win matches for them."

There was more bad news for Indian franchise cricket on Wednesday, when it was confirmed that the Champions League Twenty20 would be scrapped with immediate effect. Asked whether the Indian squad had been speaking about the developments, Rahane said: "No not at all — we haven't discussed anything.

"We were completely focused on the third ODI on Tuesday, and with the T20s we'll just focus on the game. We want to give our best against Zimbabwe and win both games."

Sanju Samson has joined up with the Indian squad, who swept Zimbabwe 3-0 in the one-day series, and will provide competition to Robin Uthappa in the wicketkeeping berth. Batsman Manish Pandey can expect to make his T20 international debut, after hitting an impressive 71 on his ODI debut in Tuesday's 83-run victory.

Zimbabwe have drafted wicketkeeper-batsman Charles Coventry, off-spinner John Nyumbu and uncapped seamer Taurai Muzarabani into their squad, but will be without two key players for the series. All-rounder Sean Williams sustained a knee injury, while pacer Tinashe Panyangara picked up a side strain.

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