Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni should be allowed to feature in foreign T20 leagues: Aakash Chopra

Former India cricketer and great commentator Aakash Chopra believes that cricketers like MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina should be given a nod for playing the foreign leagues. BCCI should give these retired cricketers NOCs to step ahead for the foreign leagues if they wish too according to him. Chopra believes that when players like Yuvraj Singh have featured in tournaments like Global T20 Canada and the Abu Dhabi T10 league, Raina and Dhoni deserve the same opportunity.

MS Dhoni announced his retirement on 15th August through an Instagram post, which broke million hearts. Soon after his decision, his great on and off-field friend Suresh Raina joined him in this journey and spilled beans over his retirement news too. However, both of them will continue playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Aakash Chopra opined that the main reason why BCCI restricts players to play foreign leagues is injury issues. But in case of both the CSK stars, they will be unavailable for national selection, they shouldn’t be stopped to play foreign leagues.

On his YouTube channel, the former cricketer stated, “I think they should be allowed because if they have retired and if they are not presenting themselves for selection for the Indian team, then there should be no harm in letting them go. There are two sides of this story, one is workload management.

“BCCI does not let their contracted players go to play in overseas leagues because they do not want to risk an injury scare and, thus they are paying them enough money to stay put.”

Just imagine how much fun it will be, says Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra also agreed to the fact that if players are allowed in foreign leagues, the thrill and excitement for appearing in IPL will go down among them. Also, the overall excitement around the cash-rich league might come down. “Second side is that the BCCI does not want to let go of its marquee players. Because if Indian marquee players will begin playing in other leagues then there will be no novelty left of the IPL.

“So I think Dhoni and Raina should be allowed to play. Just imagine how much fun it would be to see them playing. I don’t see Dhoni playing in foreign leagues but Suresh Raina is just 33 and he will want to play more cricket,” he added. Well, it will be an interesting thing to watch on BCCI’s part whether it gives NOCs to players to play in foreign leagues if they apply for the same in the future.

As of now, it seems impossible as a cricketer has to retire from the IPL as well to feature in the foreign T20 leagues while MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina both are expected to feature in the Indian tournament.