Chris Woakes reveals his reason for being out of professional cricket for months

Chris Woakes (Pic: X/@chriswoakes)

England's star all-rounder Chris Woakes revealed that the demise of his father at the beginning of May was the reason for him to stay away from professional cricket for several months.

In the recently concluded IPL 2024, Punjab Kings bought the services of Chris Woakes for Rs. 4.20 crores, but he did not play a single match. Following his absence from the game, the all-rounder was not included in England's T20 World Cup 2024 squad.

Woakes took to his official X account and said the last month was the most challenging of his life and only spent a few days with his close ones.

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"The last month has been the most challenging of my life when unfortunately my dad passed away at the beginning of May. I've spent the last few weeks with the people most important to me, my family. We're all obviously grieving and trying to get through what is undoubtedly the hardest moments in our lives. It's times like this that perspective is at its greatest," Woakes wrote.

The 35-year-old added he will return to playing cricket in the upcoming days with Warwickshire, which was his father's favourite team. Woakes also added he is looking forward to his upcoming days.

"I will be back playing cricket for Warwickshire, who my Dad loved dearly when the time is right for me and my family. I know playing cricket for Warwickshire and England made my Dad incredibly proud. I look forward to doing that again in the near future," he added.

Having made his T20I international debut against Australia, Chris Woakes has played 33 matches in which he scored 146 runs with a strike rate of 124.79. With the ball, he has bagged 31 wickets at an economy of 8.07.

In the T20 World Cup 2024, England is placed in Group B which has the likes of Australia, Scotland, Namibia and Oman. They are all set to start their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against Scotland on June 4.

England's T20 World Cup 2024 Squad: Jos Buttler (C), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonathan Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Mark Wood.

(With ANI Inputs)