The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : ‘Dad wants me to play full IPL for Daredevils'

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‘Dad wants me to play full IPL for Daredevils'

Mumbai: Australian all-rounder James Hopes, whose father has been diagnosed with bowel cancer, on Saturday put to rest all doubts surrounding his availability for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL, saying he would not leave the team midway and play the full season of the Twenty20 league.

The former Kings XI Punjab player, who was bought for $350,000 in January auctions this year by the Delhi outfit, said his father had asked him to stay on and do well for his new team.

“My dad has asked me to stay on and play the full IPL and be with my team through and through,” said Hopes, one of the key members of the Daredevils squad.

“Yes, it is true that he has been diagnosed with it (cancer). But he is in great spirits. My mother is there with him and my elder brother, John, is also there in Brisbane.

“There was never any question of my going back to Australia to be with him. I have been speaking to my dad and family after I got to know about him on Wednesday. He (dad) laughed and said, ‘I will kill you if you come back. I want you to play and do well'.

“I don't know where those reports of the possibility of my going back came from,” he added.

The Queensland all-rounder has represented Australia in 84 ODIs scoring 1,326 runs at a strike rate of 93 and has also picked up 67 wickets with a best of five for 14. — PTI

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