Second CSK player tests Covid positive; Suresh Raina exits IPL

A second Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player has tested positive after a pacer was reported as infected on Friday in UAE, where the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin from September 19.

This comes even as the franchise announced on Saturday (August 29) that all-rounder Suresh Raina has pulled out of the IPL citing “personal reasons”, which is being seen as a big setback for the team.

Including the two players, who are unnamed, a total of 13 members of the contingent have been found infected. Their names have been withheld. The contingent is currently in Dubai for the upcoming IPL season.

While the first CSK player found Covid-infected was a T20 specialist pacer, the second is a right-handed top-order batsman, who has been a part of India A teams in recent past and is a prolific Ranji Trophy performer.

Raina is expected to issue a statement later in the day regarding his sudden exit from the league. The 33-year-old had retired from international cricket earlier this month. Sources said Raina desperately needs some downtime to be with his young family at the moment.

“Suresh Raina has returned to India for personal reasons and will be unavailable for the remainder of the IPL season. Chennai Super Kings offers complete support to Suresh and his family during this time,” CSK tweeted CEO Kasi Viswanathan’s statement.

CSK’s quarantine period in Dubai has already been extended till September 1.

“Suresh’s absence will be a big blow for the CSK and also, he is one of the biggest draws in IPL. But in these times, if any player doesn’t feel 100 per cent and has some other pressing priorities, any team respects that and CSK is no different,” a senior IPL official told PTI.

Related news: Chennai Super Kings bowler, staff members test COVID-19 positive

While it couldn’t be officially confirmed but speculation was rife that a family tragedy coupled by spike in COVID-19 cases in the team might have disturbed the former India left-hander who retired on August 15 alongside his skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

While it is understood that the tournament is not under threat as of now but one franchise becoming a “COVID-19 hotspot” is slowly becoming an issue for other teams as well as the BCCI.

“If there are 13 cases from only one franchise then it is an issue for sure for everyone. The biggest aspect will be whether foreign cricketers will now start being panicky as they are more touchy about these issues,” an official said.

“We need to keep a tab on players’ mental health,” he added.