Raina hopeful of making a comeback

Lucknow, Dec 7 (UNI) Team India member Suresh Raina today said he was hopeful of returning into the national side.

Raina was being honoured by the Uttar Pradesh government for his outstanding performance in the recent Ranji Trophy championship, which the state won for the first time in its 72 years history.

Raina and Mohd Kaif were not present, when the UP team was honoured by the state government on November 23, as they were doing duties for the national side in South Africa.

Kaif, who was not present today too, would be honoured later.

Meanwhile, Raina asked the media not to question the debacle of the Indian team in South Africa in the ODIs.

Raina was honoured with a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh and a citation by UP sports minister R K Chowdhary in a function here.

The youngster said it was just a beginning for him and ups and downs are the part of the game. He also he would not let UP as well as the country down with his performance in future.

''A lot of cricket is in me and I will prove it in the coming series, if selected.'' In reply to a querry about the pitches in India, Raina said BCCI was planning to lay bouncy wickets in India to enable batsmen to cope with the swing and bounce.

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