England all-rounder Chris Woakes has pulled out from the UAE leg of IPL 2021 citing personal reasons. He and Jonny Bairstow are the two players who have pulled out from the second half of the tournament after the fifth and final Test between England and India was cancelled. This denied England an opportunity to level the series with the series poised at 2-1 before the Manchester Test.
The Delhi Capitals roped in Australia’s Ben Dwarshius as a replacement for Chris Woakes for the UAE leg. Woakes as per a report in the Guardian pulled out of the tournament saying he felt playing the IPL would mean “too much cricket” in a short span of time.
🚨 SQUAD UPDATE 🚨@chriswoakes has pulled out of the remainder of #IPL2021 due to personal reasons.
Delhi Capitals have attained the services of Australian fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis as his replacement.
Official Statement 👉🏼 https://t.co/k7Njmtf8Qh#YehHaiNayiDilli pic.twitter.com/fJQTF0fs52
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) September 13, 2021
“My inclusion in the World Cup squad, I didn’t know was going to happen – especially a couple of months ago. The IPL has been rescheduled and thrown on to the end of our summer. With the World Cup and the Ashes, it would have been too much in a short space of time. I would have loved to have been part of the IPL but something has to give” Woakes told The Guardian.
Big Home Season Coming Up: Chris Woakes
He further added that the upcoming cricket season will be a big opportunity for England with the T20 World Cup following the Ashes series. England drew the 2019 series in their own backyard and will be touring Down Under for the upcoming Ashes series.
“A World Cup and an Ashes tour, it’s almost as big a winter as our summer was in 2019. It’s a shame with what’s going on Covid-wise that it’s not going to be as normal as everyone would like. But, from a cricket perspective, it’s very exciting” said Woakes.
Meanwhile, the IPL 2021 UAE leg kicks off with CSK playing Mumbai Indians on September 19. Delhi Capitals will begin their campaign against Sunrirsers Hyderabad on September 22 in Dubai.
Also Read: Twitterati React As The Fifth Test Between England And India Gets Cancelled
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