|| Desk Report ||

According to a recent report in Times of India, Suresh Raina has pulled out of the entire season of the Indian Premier League in UAE due to the fear of staying away from family amid the increasing COVID-19 cases.

Chennai Super Kings have been facing issues with COVID-19 for the last two days, with 13 members including two players getting affected by the virus. However, CSK had announced on Saturday that Suresh Raina would be returning home for 'personal reasons'.

Raina was there in the CSK camp in Chennai before they reach to UAE on August 21. He had even announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, along with MS Dhoni. Raina had prepared a lot for the league but the sudden rise of positive cases led him to take the decision as the sources of the newspaper were 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 realised there was no point holding him (back) from travelling back because he was totally gripped by fear," the newspaper quoted a source as saying.

CSK then released a statement in social media on Saturday that they will support him and his family amid this crunch time. After the first player got affected inside the bubble, Suresh Raina was shaken and had raised his apprehensions as well.

"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.

Apart from the incident, he was disturbed by the murder of his uncle Ashok Kumar in Pathankot in an alleged robbery attempt. Four of his relatives which also included his aunt got injured during that horrifying incident, police said on Saturday. The incident happened at Thariyal village in Punjab's Pathankot district.