Ashwin 'misquoted' over Man U comments

India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has taken to Twitter to say he was misquoted regarding a comparison he made between the return of Chennai Super Kings to the Indian Premier League and Manchester United's tragic Munich air disaster of 1958.

With CSK and Rajasthan Royals set to again take part in the IPL in 2018 after a two-year ban due to their involvement in a match-fixing scandal, Ashwin – who has instead been playing with Rising Pune Supergiants but will return to Chennai – was quoted as saying the break could benefit the franchise.

Quick Single: Amir's top pick among 'big four'

"I think the two-year hiatus for CSK probably increases its value much like what it did for Manchester United when the air crash happened," Ashwin was quoted by Cricbuzz as saying.

"I don't know if it's in the same league but surely people in Chennai and fans across the world are waiting for CSK to return.

"I hope it turns out to be a good comeback."

Some Manchester United fans reacted angrily to the comparison online, suggesting it was insensitive and inaccurate to draw parallels between the disparate situations.

Twenty-three people were killed in the Munich air disaster, including eight Manchester United players and three staff.

Ashwin moved to clarify his statements on the social media site, suggesting he had been both misquoted and taken out of context.

"Guys please take the reporting with a pinch of salt with respect to the Munich tragedy and CSK," he posted.

"All I said was the break will make the fans turn up in numbers when the comeback happens.

"Not required to blow it out of context.

"Now all those who hate me, please get off my mentions, we will catch-up sometime later when I get misquoted again. Thanks."