Leicestershire County Cricket Club (LCCC) have announced that India's top-order batter Ajinkya Rahane will no longer be joining them as initially planned. Rahane, aged 35, has chosen to take a hiatus from cricket following a demanding international schedule. The original plan was for Rahane to join the club in June, but increased international commitments deferred his arrival.
Following the IPL, Rahane went to England for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, then onto India's Test tour of the West Indies, where he played both matches with India winning the series 1-0 after the second match was washed out on the final day.
Leicestershire confirmed that these commitments, which hadn't been initially considered in his schedule, led Rahane to seek a cricket break in August and September, thereby making him unavailable for the club as previously planned.
Leicestershire's Director of Cricket Claude Henderson expressed the club's understanding of Rahane's issues in a statement. "Firstly, we are fully understanding of Ajinkya's situation. He has experienced a hectic schedule in recent months, both in India and travelling with the national team, and we accept his wishes to recover and spend some time with his family," Director of Cricket Claude Henderson said in a statement issued by the club.
"We have been in constant communication with Ajinkya and accept how situations can change quickly in cricket. He is extremely grateful for our understanding and still hopes to play for Leicestershire one day." Australian Peter Handscomb will replace Rahane. Handscomb has extended his stay with the Foxes to feature in next month's Metro Bank One Day Cup.
"Thankfully, we had planned for a situation like this, and we are delighted Peter is staying on with the team. He brings many qualities alongside his batting and wicketkeeping, including strong leadership, which is a massive help to Lewis (Hill) and the rest of the guys in our changing room," Henderson said.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK
Kapil Dev switches focus on 'money, arrogance, ego' in brutal attack on current Indian cricketers
Hunting in a Pack: The 15-year sustained greatness of Stuart Broad and James Anderson
