Flintoff ready for IPL challenge despite injury

Andrew Flintoff insists he has no doubts about competing in the Indian Premier League despite having to leave the West Indies tour because of injury. The England all-rounder is set to play for the Chennai Super Kings after he and international teammate Kevin Pietersen became the highest-priced players when they were snapped up for US$1.55million (Dh5.69m).

However, Flintoff's participation in next month's IPL has been questioned after a hip injury forced him to return home to England for treatment. But when asked if he was having any second thoughts, Flintoff told the Mail on Sunday's Live Magazine: "No. I've missed a hell of lot of cricket through injuries and I don't want to miss any more. "I want to play everything I possibly can. "This injury is just an inconvenience. Just at the moment I've had a bad run of injuries but I'm confident it's all going to turn round." "If I thought I couldn't manage everything I wouldn't have gone into the IPL auction. I didn't just go in on a whim; it's been properly thought through. "I'm still confident I can do all of it."

The Lancashire player, 31, was part of the England team that took part in the ill-fated Stanford Super Series. The competition, team and the England and Wales Cricket Board all came in for criticism as did Sir Allen Stanford himself but all ties have now been severed with the American after he was charged with multibillion fraud. Flintoff, though, is glad it is all over. "It's a relief in a lot of ways," he added. "It's all been a bit of a circus from start to finish. "I very briefly met Stanford but I didn't have long enough in his company to make an assessment of him to be honest with you." *PA Sport