Hectic schedule will drain players, says Dhoni

[1]

Never the one to mince words when it comes speaking his mind, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Wednesday criticised the hectic cricket schedule, saying the crammed calendar this year will drain the players both physically and mentally.

"It does affect the performance of players. The physical aspect you can battle but because of the amount of cricket (you play) at times you find yourself mentally and emotionally quite drained," Dhoni told a press conference here when asked about the packed schedule ahead this year.

Less than a week after the conclusion of the World Cup that lasted over 40 days, IPL-IV kicks-off on Friday and will last 50 days.

Indian players will play series against West Indies, England and Australia later in the year.

"After the IPL, India play West Indies series, we then go straight to England, we come back, if we qualify (in the IPL) you play in the Champions League. Then there is another couple of tournaments before you move to Australia, so it's quite a hectic schedule ahead of us," Dhoni said.

"Even if the demanding schedule may not affect all the players, it will affect quite a few players who have been part of all the cricket we have played for about the past six months," he added.

Dhoni has just before the World Cup spoken against the busy schedule, saying that this has made the players physically and mentally tired.

That led to angry reaction from the BCCI who said that players are permitted to take rest whenever they feel tired.

The Chennai Super Kings skipper was in the city to kickstart CSK's latest IPL season. CSK won the tournament last year and also the Champions League Twenty20.