Chennai, Feb 2: Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming on Friday indicated that his team may not look for foreign players in Sunday's IPL auction in Chennai as he felt "looking for new overseas players will lose fan base".
Asked about continuing with the existing players in the CSK squad, Fleming said, "We would like to continue with the players. We associate with those quality players and develop them and plan our strategies. It is dangerous situation when you are looking for new overseas players as you will lose the fan base.
"We want to develop our relations with the same players as they would have understood the needs of the team and the management. The fans expect consistency from the players and performance and we need to deliver that," he said at the press conference for the Chennai Super Kings Super Cup, a local tournament for corporate clubs, to be organised by CSK.
The former New Zealand captain said that CSK would be looking for a "local bowling leader".
Asked if any of the players who played in IPL 2012 was found lacking in his performance, Fleming said, "We are to assist the players to perform. We do not get into situations like that. We make assessments every year. If we buy a player, we believe in them.
"One area we address to is local bowlers options. We did not have the local bowling leader. We are trying to rectify that for the coming season. We are looking for young bowlers are will fit in to our thinking." Understandably, he refused to say much about how his franchise would go about in the players' auction.
"We are looking for consistency from players in coming season of IPL. We, as coaches, have a duty to help the players get better and that is the strength of CSK. The beauty of players' auction is nothing is known before you actually buy a player. We may require to get the best of best players but you would never know how the auction goes. It is a close and dagger stuff. I cannot give you the details now," he said.
Asked about former Australia captain Ricky Ponting who would be up for grabs in Sunday's auction, Fleming evaded the question, saying that his team has another Australian batsman Michael Hussey.
"We have Michael Hussey in the team. He is sort of a permanent member of the squad. He has been of huge support due to his experience in world cricket. He is a cricket brain and a great cricketer," said Fleming.
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