Dhoni, Harbhajan bat for Suresh Raina

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni today firmly backed teammate Suresh Raina terming the reports of the young middle-order batsman being linked with an associate of a bookie as "baseless."

"I think it is baseless," was Dhoni's curt reply to reporters when they sought his reaction on the story published by a British daily which said that Raina was seen in Sri Lanka with a woman, who is a close associate of a known bookmaker.

When prodded further, the skipper said,"Whether it's the Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC), the BCCI, ACSU or the ICC, each and everyone has already given their reaction in this regard."

Another of Raina's senior teammate Harbhajan Singh also came out strongly in support of Raina stating that BCCI has already cleared the issue.

"BCCI has cleared every aspect regarding this issue," Harbhajan said today. Yesterday, it was reported that Raina was seen with the the lady at a Sri Lankan Hotel and the footages were recorded on the CCTV of the hotel.

According to that newspaper, the SLC rather than contacting the ICC's ACSU went to BCCI. The BCCI secretary N Srinivasan, for whose frachise Chennai Super Kings Raina plays in the IPL, instructed the SLC not to proceed further.