Shukla noted there was no way he could play cricket while his father was in hospital

Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Laxmi Ratan Shukla has pulled out of the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20), which starts today, due to personal reasons.

Shukla will be replaced by Debabrata Das for the entire tournament, which is being played in South Africa.

“My father is not keeping well… He is suffering from pneumonia. He is critical and has been hospitalised for the last 20 days…I played for Bengal in the Challenger Trophy because it was happening in the country. ForChampions League, I have to travel to South Africa and will have to be outside the country for 20 days. I cannot afford to stay away from him for so many days,” Shukla said.

Shukla stated that he was extremely disappointed to be missing the tournament, but added that family always came first.

“I’m really sad that I could not play for KKR in the CLT20. That too, in a year in which we won the IPL. Even if I travel to South Africa, the thought of my father will always be in the back of my mind and will hamper my game,” he said.