New Delhi: The Australians flew to the Maldives, the South Africans were on their way home and those from New Zealand were waiting to be sent back on Friday while the suspended IPL’s foreign cricketers spoiled India, hoping the country recovered from the chaos unleashed by the second wave of Covid-19 incidents.
The 40-strong Australian contingent, except for a Covid-19 positive Mike Hussey, left for the Maldives on Thursday to postpone the waiting period before they can board a flight to Australia once the travel restrictions end on 15 May.
“We can confirm that Australian players, coaches, match officials and commentators have been safely transported from India and are on their way to the Maldives,” Cricket Australia said in a press release.
“The Australians will remain in the Maldives until the end of the travel break regarding flights from India to Australia,” he added.
The IPL was suspended on Tuesday after four players and two coaching staff members from three different teams tested positive Covid-19 inside the bio-bubble.
Of the 40 Australians involved in the league after three early retirements, 14 were players, including megastars such as David Warner, Pat Cummins and Steve Smith.
The 11 South Africans in the league boarded flights to Johannesburg because their country did not impose any restrictions on travel from India.
“My constant prayers are with the people from India to get through this. Be cared for, “Proteas star Faf du Plessis, who performed with Chennai Super Kings, posted on Instagram.
Hussey, the batting coach of Chennai Super Kings, was brought to Chennai by air ambulance from Delhi and will be there in quarantine to recover from the infection.
“Mike is experiencing mild symptoms and is under the care of his franchise Chennai Super Kings,” said Cricket Australia (CA).
The body thanked the BCCI for its help in ensuring that players could leave India within two days of suspension from the league due to Covid-19 cases within its bio-bubble.
“CA and the ACA sincerely thank the BCCI for their response to the transport of the Australians from India to the Maldives …,” the statement read.
On the waiting list were the Black Caps. Four members of their Test contingent, including captain Kane Williamson, will leave for the UK on May 11, while the rest will return home on Friday, the country’s cricket board has announced.
New Zealand will play the hosts for England in a two-match Test series, starting on June 2, before facing India in the World Cup final in Southampton from June 18.
“We have worked closely with the BCCI and the IPL franchises on the various departure strategies and we are very grateful for their support during a very difficult time,” New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive David White said in a statement Thursday.
Williamson, pacer Kyle Jamieson and spinner Mitchell Santner, as well as physio Tommy Simsek, will remain in a mini-bubble in New Delhi before leaving for the UK ahead of preparations for the Test series against England and the WTC final against In the.
There were 17 New Zealanders involved in the IPL, including 10 players. NZC said May 11 is the earliest date they could get for the team’s arrival in the UK.
However, the tempo striker, Trent Boult, will briefly return home to see his family before joining the Test squad in early June, for the second game against England and the WTC final.
“… Boult leaves MIQ (Managed Isolation and Quarantine) on May 22 and will spend a week with his family at home and practice at Mung Maui before leaving for the UK in early June,” NZC said.
White said IPL players, support staff and commentators returning to New Zealand would abide by all regulatory protocols, including before departure Covid-19 tests.
Those returning to India from New Zealand on Friday include Stephen Fleming, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Shane Bond, Mike Hesson, Tim Seifert, Adam Milne, Scott Kuggeleijn and James Pamment.
Source: Telangana Today