"Tough Decision": Kane Richardson On Leaving RCB Squad Before IPL 2020

Australia fast bowler Kane Richardson pulled out of the RCB squad before the IPL 2020 as his wife is expecting the birth of their first child. Though a moment of happiness awaits back home, Kane Richardson admitted that it was a difficult decision to withdraw from a mega T20 league like IPL.

Richardson said that before pulling out of the RCB squad he sat down and thought about it. He also added that due to the pandemic situation it might have turned out difficult for him to return home in the middle of the season. The fast bowler maintained that he is disappointed but hopes to get his chance in near future.

“It’s always difficult to withdraw from a competition like the IPL, it’s the pinnacle domestic competition in the world so it wasn’t an easy decision, but when I sat down and thought about it, it was definitely the right one.

“With all that’s going on in the world at the moment and the challenge of getting home on time for something as unpredictable as the birth of a child, I couldn’t risk missing that.

“I’m disappointed to miss the IPL but hopefully there are opportunities ahead for that. I don’t think I’d be able to live with missing the birth of my first child I can be home and support my wife as best I can, and hopefully those (cricket) opportunities come around again,” Richardson said from Southampton on Wednesday.

Cricket Australia said that Richardson will forgo his fresh $816k (AUD) contract with the star-studded RCB and instead head home to Adelaide to be with his wife Nyki for the birth of his first child when Australia’s limited-overs tour of England concludes later this month.