As per the recent report in Times of India, Suresh Raina has pulled out of the entire edition of the Indian Premier League in UAE owing to the fear of staying away from family amid the increasing COVID-19 cases.
Chennai Super Kings have been facing issues of COVID-19 for the last few days, with 13 members including two players getting affected by the novel virus. However, CSK had announced on Saturday that their key player Suresh Raina would be returning home for 'personal reasons'.
Raina was there in the CSK camp in Chennai before they fly to UAE on August 21. Moreover, he had also announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, along with MS Dhoni. He had prepared a lot for the league but the sudden rise of COVID-19 cases led him to take the drastic step as the sources of a newspaper was quoted as saying.
"On Friday night, in fact, there was a huge ruckus. He tried calling all his teammates, coach Stephen Fleming skipper MS Dhoni again and again to share his concerns. MS, in fact, also tried explaining things to him but nothing worked. He was badly psyched up and worried. Eventually, everybody else realized there was no point holding him (back) from traveling back because he was totally gripped by fear," the newspaper quoted a source as saying.
Meanwhile, CSK also released a statement in social media on Saturday that they will support him and his family amid this crunch situation. After the first player got affected inside the bubble, Suresh Raina got frightened and had taken the decision.
"He wasn't in a mood to play once the multiple COVID positive cases emerged. He was more keen on going back home to his kids," an IPL source in CSK camp said to PTI.
The cash-rich Indian Premier League will be played in the UAE from September 19 to November 10.
Cover Credits: InsideSport
