London, Apr. 22 : Having ensured a victory for the Chennai Super Kings against Bangalore''s Royal Challengers in the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), England all rounder Andrew Flintoff is likely to face pressure to return for the final should his franchise make it on May 24.

The pressure would be immense for a player of the stature of Flintoff or Pietersen to be given special dispensation to take part knowing that the final one-dayer against the West Indies is taking place on the same day, reports the Daily Express.

According to the tabloid, it is quite feasible, amid the intricate and delicate politics of global cricket, that the ECB would agree to send Flintoff back to the Chennai dressing room in preference to the England one.

“I don’t know what the situation would be if that happened. What I can say is that I have been hugely impressed with what I’ve found in the IPL: the standard of the cricket, the organisation of the tournament, the interaction of the players from different countries,” Flintoff was quoted, as saying.

IPL boss Lalit Modi also spoke in diplomatic fashion yesterday about the possibility of Flintoff or Pietersen returning for the semi-finals and final. (ANI)