Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Ace spinner Harbhajan Singh pulls out of IPL due to 'personal reasons'

FORMER India Test off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Friday (4) added to a growing list of top names to pull out of the coronavirus hit the Indian Premier League.

The 40-year-old has also become the second key player to withdraw from three-time champions Chennai Super Kings ahead of the start on September 19 in United Arab Emirates.


"Dear Friends, I will not be playing IPL this year due to personal reasons," Harbhajan announced on Twitter.

"These are difficult times and I would expect some privacy as I spend time with my family."

Harbhajan, who had been at the centre of growing speculation as he had not joined the other players in Dubai, said Chennai had been "extremely supportive" and he wished them a "great IPL".

"Team Chennai Super Kings is supportive of his decision and stands by him and his family during these testing times," CSK said on Twitter, without naming a replacement.

Former Test batsman Suresh Raina, who recently retired from international cricket, went to Dubai with Chennai but flew back last weekend, also for "personal reasons".

"I have a family with two little kids and elderly parents," Raina told an Indian news magazine Outlook.

"For me returning to the family was more important."

Incidentally, at the time of his return, his relatives in Punjab had faced a deadly attack by gang of robbers.

The tournament was moved out of India because of the pandemic. But two Chennai players -- Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad -- and 11 officials and support staff tested positive for coronavirus, delaying the start of Chennai's training.

Harbhajan, who has claimed 150 wickets in 160 IPL appearances, was part of the Mumbai Indians squad for 10 years before joining Chennai in 2018.

Other big names have also withdrawn from the tournament in recent days.

England's Jason Roy of the Delhi Capitals will not go because of injury. Australian international Kane Richardson pulled out of Royal Challengers Bangalore to be at the birth of his first child.

Veteran Sri Lanka paceman Lasith Malinga of the Mumbai Indians team also pulled out of the tournament "to be with his family".

The IPL has yet to release a fixture list for the league, which runs through to November 10.

More For You

Essar-Oil-UK-Getty

Essar Oil UK is advancing decarbonization at its Stanlow Refinery with two key projects supported by Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) grants. (Photo: Getty Images)

Essar, 24 other firms get £51.9m to cut industrial carbon emissions

THE GOVERNMENT has allocated £51.9 million to support 25 businesses in reducing carbon emissions as part of the Plan for Change aimed at driving economic growth and rebuilding Britain.

The funding covers projects across various industries, including food manufacturing, cement production, and glass processing.
Companies receiving funding include Essar Oil UK, Nestlé's coffee processing site in Staffordshire, Heinz's baked bean factory in Wigan, and Hanson Cement in North Wales.

Keep ReadingShow less
Exclusive: 'Starmer must fill NHS staffing defecit'
Dr Chaand Nagpaul

Exclusive: 'Starmer must fill NHS staffing defecit'

LABOUR's latest announcement to cut NHS waiting lists, while welcome, does not go far enough, the former leader of the doctors’ union, Chaand Nagpaul has told Eastern Eye.

Prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, unveiled his plans on Monday (6). He pledged Labour would set up more NHS hubs in community locations in England, and the service would make greater use of the private sector to help meet the challenge.

Keep ReadingShow less
Exclusive: 'Stop spreading racial hatred'
Nazir Afzal

Exclusive: 'Stop spreading racial hatred'

POLITICIANS must dial down “dangerous and inflammatory” rhetoric and recognise the contributions of all communities in Britain, prominent south Asians have told Eastern Eye.

They are concerned that recent social media attacks on asylum seekers, immigrants, especially British Pakistanis, as well as ministers will lead to unnecessary deaths.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lisa-Nandy-Getty

The culture secretary retains powers to refer the case to the Competition and Markets Authority, which could trigger an investigation into press freedom concerns linked to Abu Dhabi’s involvement. (Photo: Getty Images)

Calls grow for Lisa Nandy to end Telegraph ownership stalemate

THE SALE of The Telegraph newspaper has drawn widespread political calls for culture secretary Lisa Nandy to intervene and end the prolonged uncertainty surrounding its ownership.

The newspaper has been in limbo for 20 months after an auction process initiated by RedBird IMI, an Abu Dhabi-backed investment fund, failed to secure a suitable buyer.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tesla-Getty

Tesla has faced challenges in 2024, reporting its first annual decline in deliveries as incentives failed to increase demand for its ageing vehicle lineup. (Photo: Getty Images)

Tesla received nearly £200m in UK government grants since 2016: Report

ELON MUSK’s electric vehicle company Tesla has received £191 million in grants from the UK government since 2016, according to an analysis by Tussell.

The majority of the funding, £188m, was provided by the Department for Transport (DfT) through the plug-in car grant scheme, which aimed to promote the adoption of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, The Guardian reported.

Keep ReadingShow less