IPL 2021: Australia is all set to suspend flights from India to prevent Covid-19 from entering the country following a surge in cases in India. The news has left Australian players who are part of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises in shock. Mumbai Indians batter Chris Lynn has asked Cricket Australia (CA) to arrange a charter flight to bring players home at the end of IPL season.
Queensland state has urged the federal government to halt all flights from India due to the high risk of potential COVID-19 outbreaks from highly contagious virus variants in the country’s hotel quarantine system.
“I sent a letter to the Prime Minister at the end of last week asking for the suspension of flights coming in from India … and I know that the federal government is considering it today,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told the Australian Broadcasting Corp on Tuesday.
Three Australian cricketers have already cut short their IPL season to head home but a number of the country’s top players, including Steve Smith, David Warner and Pat Cummins, remain.
Also Read: IPL 2021: ECB under tremendous pressure to ‘fly back’ players after Covid-19 surge in India
Cricket Australia (CA) contacted Australia’s IPL players on Monday inquiring about their health and travel plans.
“I texted back that as Cricket Australia make 10% of every IPL contract was there a chance we could spend that money this year on a charter flight once the tournament is over?” Chris Lynn, who plays for Mumbai Indians, told News Corp media.
“I know there are people worse off than us. But we are going from a really tight bubble and are getting vaccinated next week so hopefully the government will let us get home on a private charter.”
“We are not asking for shortcuts and we signed up knowing the risks. But it would be great to get home as soon as the event is over.”
The regular season ends on May 23, with qualifiers and eliminators to follow before the final on May 30.
Also Read: IPL 2021: RCB’s Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson returns to Australia due to Covid-19 surge
CA were unable to provide immediate comment.
IPL 2021: ECB under tremendous pressure to ‘fly back’ players after Covid-19 surge in India
Amid rising Covid-19 cases in India, pressure is increasing on England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to bring their Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) players home. With Covid situation in India getting grim by the day, ECB is extremely concerned about well-being of their players. According to reports in UK media, ‘pressure on ECB is mounting big time to fly-back players from India’.
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On Monday 3 Australian players Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa & Andrew Tye decided to withdraw from the IPL 2021 and speculation is rife that some of the worried England players can do the same.
Also Read: IPL 2021: RCB’s Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson returns to Australia due to Covid-19 surge
The UK Government has already categorized India in Red-List and according to a report by The Daily Mail, ECB is in constant touch with their players. The English board for now has left the decision on the 11 England players to decide whether to stay or return from IPL 2021.