IPL 2021- Overseas players pulling out of IPL due to Covid-19?

[MenInG]

Having finally reached Australia, Michael Hussey's personal nightmare is finally over. The former cricketer was one of COVID-19 cases in the recently postponed Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. Due to his positive result, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting coach had to stay back in India to quarantine, and could only depart after testing negative, unlike his other Australian colleagues, who departed for Maldives after the tournament was postponed. Having touched down in Sydney on Monday, Hussey can now breathe a sigh of relief, considering that he arrived home on the same day as the other Aussies involved in IPL.

Speaking to foxsports.com.au, Hussey revealed, "I wasn't thinking about (getting home) too much to start with".

"I was focusing on just trying to get better again, really".

He is currently in a Sydney hotel, for his mandatory two-week quarantine.

Hussey wasn't the only high-profile coronavirus case in the CSK camp. Before him, bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji also tested positive for the dreaded virus. Pretty soon, Hussey also tested positive, and he used to sit next to Balaji on the team bus.

Hussey stated he suspected that he contracted the virus before his positive result, due to some symptoms and he was also sitting next to Balaji on the team bus.

"My initial test came up as a weak positive, and we were sort of hoping the next would be negative and it'd be alright, but unfortunately I got retested the next day and that came back positive," he said.

"To be honest, I had already started feeling some of the symptoms and so I was thinking, 'I'm pretty sure I've got it'."

"Plus I was sitting next to the bowling coach on the bus a few times, so I thought, 'If he's got it then there's a pretty good chance I've got it as well'."

Also giving his opinion regarding the bio-secure bubbles in IPL, Hussey said that he felt safe in Mumbai. But then moving to Delhi, exposed the team to external stimuli like airport security, flight attendants etc.

"There was certainly more risk once we left that Mumbai bubble," he said.

The 45-year-old also pointed out that he wasn't shocked or surprised with his positive result, which came on May 3.

"I was a bit like, 'Oh gosh, why me', but I didn't really think too much at all. I thought it was a bit of a shame", he said.

After Hussey and Balaji tested positive, the CSK management shifted the duo to Chennai, where they had better medical support. They were transported in an air ambulance inside a pod. Hussey later had a false negative, and defeated the virus on May 13.

The CSK batting coach had planned to fly to Maldives and join his Australian colleagues there. But the Maldives government also banned flights from India. So, he decided to use the aerial route from Chennai to Doha and then finally Australia.

Hussey also expressed his sadness regarding the postponement of IPL, and seemed disheartened with the tournament falling victim to COVID-19. He will be flying back to his home in Perth after completing his two-week hotel quarantine.

https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/ipl...-blames-bio-bubble-shift-from-mumbai-2445212?

 

[MenInG]

Speaking from the confines of his Sydney hotel room, Mike Hussey can finally sit back and take a deep breath.

Two weeks of stress, uncertainty and vulnerability have passed for the Australian cricket great — but the individual nightmare is finally over.

Hussey touched down in Australia on Monday via a commercial flight from Doha before being whisked to the Marriott Hotel where he will spend two more weeks in mandatory hotel quarantine.

That he arrived home on the same day as nearly 40 other Australians involved in the Indian Premier League, despite a 10-day battle with COVID-19 that left him stranded in India, is something of a minor miracle.

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The Australian contingent was able to escape the COVID-ravaged nation for the Maldives, where it waited for a flight ban to be lifted on May 15.

Hussey, meanwhile, didn’t know when he would overcome the virus, let alone how — or when — he would leave India.

“I wasn’t thinking about (getting home) too much to start with,” he told foxsports.com.au on Tuesday. “I was focusing on just trying to get better again, really.”

After the IPL relocated from Mumbai to the epicentre of India’s coronavirus crisis, Delhi, Hussey started feeling unwell with what he believes was a separate virus.

The Fox Cricket commentator continued to return negative results during routine coronavirus tests every two to three days, but that soon changed after it became clear the competition’s bubble had been compromised.

One of the first positive cases was returned by L Balaji, Chennai Super Kings’ bowling coach who Hussey had been sitting next to on the team bus.

Soon after, Hussey tested positive, too.

“My initial test came up as a weak positive, and we were sort of hoping the next would be negative and it’d be alright, but unfortunately I got retested the next day and that came back positive,” he said.

“To be honest, I had already started feeling some of the symptoms and so I was thinking, ‘I’m pretty sure I’ve got it’.

“Plus I was sitting next to the bowling coach on the bus a few times, so I thought, ‘If he’s got it then there’s a pretty good chance I’ve got it as well’.”

It’s unclear exactly where Hussey contracted the virus, although he believes moving the competition from Mumbai to Delhi exposed participants to a far greater health risk.

He describes feeling “very safe” in the Mumbai bubble, but explained that moving to the Indian capital meant exposure to airport security, baggage handlers, flight attendants and pilots, who all came from outside.

“So there was a risk there,” Hussey said, adding: “It (also) could have been at the ground; there was ground staff while we were there training and on game day.

“There was certainly more risk once we left that Mumbai bubble.”

Speaking of the moment his first positive test came through on May 3, Hussey said: “I wasn’t surprised.

“I was a bit like, ‘Oh gosh, why me’, but I didn’t really think too much at all. I thought it was a bit of a shame.”

Hussey didn’t experience severe symptoms, but said he had a bad cough, fever, and felt “really tired”.

“But I certainly wasn’t worried about my breathing or things like that,” he added. “It was just a bit annoying, really.

“Looking back on it now, it probably did knock me around a bit more than I thought at the time. At the time I thought I didn’t feel great, but not life-threatening or anything like that. But it does take its toll on you after a while I guess.”

While COVID-positive, Super Kings moved Hussey and Balaji to Chennai where the club had better access to medical support.

The flight involved the pair being transported on an air ambulance inside a pod; a small, plastic tube which can be likened to a see-through body bag.

Hussey later returned a false negative, before he overcame the virus on May 13.

The initial plan was for Hussey to meet the Australian contingent in the Maldives after testing negative, but the Maldives government eventually banned fights from India, too.

Plan B was finding commercial flights from Chennai to Doha to Australia.

“That’s what we ended up going with in the end,” said Hussey, who flew with the Chennai Super Kings manager.

“We were a bit nervous obviously with flights being cancelled left, right and centre, but thankfully it all went quite smoothly and it’s good to be back.

“Even once we arrived in Sydney, the police and the staff at the airport were all really friendly and made you feel as comfortable as they could because it’s obviously not the nicest experience.”

Today, Hussey is thankful for key figures at the Super Kings, who he says did everything they could to make him feel safe and well looked after.

Nonetheless, there’s still a sadness that the competition couldn’t be finished after a successful first half in Mumbai.

“It’s disappointing because the tournament was going really well and we felt secure in that first bubble,” Hussey said.

“So it’s really a shame that coronavirus was able to penetrate the bubble because there was some fantastic cricket being played and the tournament was really set up well for the second half, but unfortunately we couldn’t finish it off.”

After completing his two weeks in hotel quarantine, Hussey will be on the first flight back to Perth where he says he’s looking forward to reuniting with his family.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...e/news-story/19770c8203dd72af962d9ba464101939

 

[MenInG]

Kane Williamson was leading SRH before IPL was suspended. Photo: BCCIKane Williamson was leading SRH before IPL was suspended. Photo: BCCI KEY HIGHLIGHTSThe BCCI was forced to suspend the IPL 2021 after 6 COVID-19 cases in different campsSunrisers Hyderabad was one of the franchises hit with COVID-19Reacting to IPL 2021's suspension, Kane Williamson has said that the right decisions were made
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 came to an abrupt stoppage earlier this month after 6 COVID-19 cases were confirmed in different camps. At first, the BCCI was forced to reschedule the league stage match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders. As the number of cases increased from 2 to 6 in the next 24 hours, the tournament was suspended.

The BCCI started to ferry the overseas players to their homes after the suspension. Since several New Zealand players were scheduled to fly to the UK, they traveled to the Maldives with the Australian contingent and reached England a few days back.

Sunrisers Hyderabad's captain Kane Williamson has also reached the UK and is serving the isolation period. Speaking to the press from his room, Williamson opened up on IPL 2021's suspension and said that the right decisions were made.

"Things escalated really quickly over in India and the challenges that way in that part of the world are heartbreaking to see. From suppose us playing in a bubble with a face, you know clearly it became too great. We were very well looked after in the bubble for the first half of the tournament, when things were still intact but clearly there were some breaches," he said.

"The tournament couldn't continue and the right decisions were made, I believe that's how things unfolded in the IPL."

SRH was one of the franchises hit with COVID-19 as wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha tested positive for the infection. He recovered from COVID-19 earlier this week and has joined his family members. Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals were other franchises hit with the infection.

Williamson, who was appointed as SRH's captain a few days before the tournament's suspension, will be leading the team whenever the league resumes. He took over from David Warner, who managed to lead SRH to just one win in the first 6 matches.

The captaincy change didn't work at least in Williamson's first fixture as captain as SRH lost to Rajasthan Royals by 55 runs. The senior batsman had also led SRH in IPL 2018 and 2019.

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...on-covid-affected-ipl-2021s-suspension/759600

 

[MenInG]

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert broke down in tears on Tuesday as he recalled fearing the worst after testing positive for COVID-19 in India following the Indian Premier League's (IPL) suspension.

Seifert, who had been with IPL side Kolkata Knight Riders, was unable to exit India with other New Zealand cricketers after he returned a positive test and became the last foreign player left in the country.

Now back in New Zealand, Seifert said his "heart sank straight away" when a team official told him of his positive test.

"The world kind of stops a little bit." he told reporters in a video call from hotel quarantine in Auckland. "I just couldn’t really think what was next. And that was the scary part of it.

"You hear about the bad things, and I thought that was going to happen to me."

Seifert was then overcome with emotion on the call and needed a moment to compose himself before going on.

"The news (in India) is all about a lack of oxygen, you don’t know if you’re going to be in that situation," he said.

"It’s just the whole unknown of what COVID is, how you’re going to react to it."

The IPL was played in a biosecure bubble before it was suspended indefinitely on May 4 after players and staff on multiple teams contracted COVID-19. read more

Seifert experienced only mild symptoms but the stress had proved the biggest challenge for him.

He said the experience had not turned him off returning to India for the Twenty20 World Cup in October, though the global tournament may be in doubt if the country is unable to overcome a devastating second wave of the coronavirus. read more

"To be honest, the whole time while I was over there, the bubble felt good ... felt safe," he said.

REUTERS

 

[MenInG]

Australian cricketers, who left India after the IPL 2021 was postponed earlier this month, were released from quarantine in Sydney on Monday, after spending 14 days isolating in hotel rooms. Steve Smith, David Warner and Pat Cummins were among the players, coaches and officials who completed the mandatory quarantine period after returning on a charter flight from the Maldives. Warner posted videos on his Instagram account that showed him reuniting with his daughters, before adding a clip of the ocean captioned "It's great to be home".

Fast bowler Jason Behrendorff told public broadcaster ABC it was "nice to have some fresh air" after leaving quarantine.

"It's always tough being stuck somewhere, and knowing that we're able to get home was a relief, and now we're out of quarantine, I can't wait to get home and see my family," he said.

The 38-strong group had been evacuated from India after the Indian Premier League, the world's richest cricket tournament, was suspended on May 4 as coronavirus cases surged in the country.

They spent about 10 days in the Maldives before the Australian government lifted a temporary ban on citizens who had been in India from travelling home.

The IPL started in early April, with the decision to go ahead in the face of a deepening health crisis prompting criticism from some observers, while others defended it as a welcome distraction for the embattled Indian public.

The Indian cricket board, BCCI, announced Saturday that the tournament, which had completed around half its fixtures, will be played to a conclusion in the United Arab Emirates in September and October.

https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2021/gr...-cricketers-exit-quarantine-in-sydney-2452731

 

[MenInG]

Australia batsman David Warner has narrated his 'terrifying' experience of the Covid-19 situation of India during his time in the country for the IPL 2021. Warner, the former Sunrisers Hyderabad captain, revealed it was 'upsetting' to see what the country was going through, and how watching the news about all that was happening outside was a highly unsettling experience.

"I think it really hit home when everyone saw that piece on the TV about what was happening in India with the oxygen," Warner told Nova's Fitzy & Wippa. "You know, people on the streets lining up to cremate their family members and we did see that a couple of times going to and from the grounds. Open fields and stuff. You know, it was terrifying. And it was just really upsetting from a humanitarian point of view."

With the second wave of Covid-19 gripping India and resulting in a high number of fatalities, the IPL 2021 was suspended indefinitely after some of the cricketers tested positive. Warner was one of the many Australian cricketers who were flown to the Maldives to spend time in quarantine. Warner called the decision to pull the plug on the IPL a correct move and explained how important it was for the players to move out of the bio-bubbled the moment cases emerged.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...dia-s-covid-19-nightmare-101622614115315.html

 

[ChTab]

Dinesh Karthik confirms Pat Cummins' unavailability for remainder of IPL 2021


Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Dinesh Karthik is ready to lead the side if Eoin Morgan remains unavailable for the remainder of IPL 2021.

English players including Morgan are unlikely to feature in the rest of IPL 2021 in the UAE due to their pre-scheduled international commitments. Ahead of the T20 World Cup, the Poms will be touring Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Morgan, who guided England to World Cup glory in 2019, had replaced Karthik as the Kolkata outfit's captain last year in the UAE. Willing to lead the side again, Karthik also confirmed the unavailability of Aussie speedster Pat Cummins, who won't participate due to personal reasons.

"Pat Cummins has himself said that he will not come. But when it comes to Eoin Morgan, there are still three months to go. A lot can change from now till September. But if I am asked to lead, I will be ready for it," said Karthik in an interview with The Times of India.

In absence of Cummins, KKR will rely on the likes of Prasidh Krishna, Shivam Mavi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Andre Russell, and Sandeep Warrier. This year, Cummins spearheaded KKR's bowling attack and took nine wickets in seven games along with scoring a quick-fire half-century.

The two-time champions will also hope to get their campaign on track after enduring a shaky start in IPL 2021. They were placed seventh on the points table with just two wins when the league was postponed amid growing COVID-19 cases in its bio-bubble.

The Kolkata-based franchise had missed out on the playoffs spot last season too, finishing fifth in the league standings with seven wins from 14 games.

 

[MenInG]

Australia's limited overs skipper Aaron Finch believes it would be difficult for players who have pulled out of the white ball tours of West Indies and Bangladesh to justify returning to finish off the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The IPL was suspended last month after several players and backroom staff tested positive for COVID-19 but the Indian Cricket board plans to complete the lucrative tournament in the United Arab Emirates in September and October.

Pat Cummins, David Warner and Glenn Maxwell were among seven players with IPL contracts who have decided not to go on back-to-back tours of the Caribbean and Bangladesh in July and August, while Steve Smith will miss the trips through injury.

"This is only my personal opinion but I think they would find it hard to justify going back and playing that second half of the IPL," Finch told former test Adam Gilchrist on a Perth radio station.

"Just purely based on the workload coming up with a T20 World Cup and a huge home summer.

"It's a tough situation that everyone has been put in, but personally I would find it hard to do that knowing how difficult it is and how challenging it is mentally, and on your family as well. That's what I would think."

Australia's chief selector Trevor Hohns made it clear this week that players were expected to put national duties ahead of the IPL, especially with the Twenty20 World Cup scheduled for October and November.

Finch, who did not play in the IPL, said the players who had decided not to go on tour might find their places in the squad for the T20 World Cup under threat from their replacements.

"The guys who aren't there have probably left the door slightly ajar," Finch added.

"What that looks like when the T20 World Cup comes around, we'll have to wait and see."

https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cric...rd-to-justify-aaron-finch/article34855602.ece

 

[Firebat]

Jos Buttler expects England commitments to take precedence over rescheduled Indian Premier League

Jos Buttler expects to be playing for England rather than taking part in a rescheduled Indian Premier League.

The IPL was postponed in May and is set to be concluded in the United Arab Emirates in September and October.

At the same time, England are set to be preparing for the Twenty20 World Cup with tours of Bangladesh and Pakistan.

"Usually the IPL doesn't clash with any international cricket," said Buttler. "When it does clash, probably England will take precedence."

England director of cricket Ashley Giles has previously said that the national team will take priority over the rearranged IPL.

When asked where he expects to be if there is a scheduling conflict, wicketkeeper Buttler, who plays for Rajasthan Royals, replied: "Where Ashley Giles says."

A number of England players had been given clearance to take a full part in the IPL as it was originally scheduled, despite being rested for periods of international cricket.

Even after the IPL was postponed, almost all of those players missed England's 1-0 Test series defeat by New Zealand after being rested following a period of quarantine on their return to the UK.

Buttler, 30, has now missed England's past five Tests, in which time they have registered four defeats and one draw.

"In the past 18 months to two years, there have been some strides made, and the side is going in the right direction," he said.

"Some key personnel weren't playing in the games just gone. Things are still in a good place."

Buttler is returning to the England side for the three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka, the first of which is in Cardiff on Wednesday.

England have rotated players in 2021 in a bid to manage their workload and guard well-being in the Covid era, when so much cricket takes place in a 'bubble'.

However, with the international schedule now full until early 2022, including five home Tests against India, the T20 World Cup in India and an Ashes series in Australia, there seems little opportunity for players to take a break without being rested.

Buttler said it is the "dream" to play in all five Tests against both India and Australia, but that the full calendar is "daunting".

"I want to play as much as I can," he said. "You always want to be available for everything.

"I don't think there are any perfect answers. We play a lot of cricket and it's important for everyone to be looked after."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/57553723

 

[HitWicket]

Jos Buttler expects England commitments to take precedence over rescheduled Indian Premier League

Jos Buttler expects to be playing for England rather than taking part in a rescheduled Indian Premier League.

The IPL was postponed in May and is set to be concluded in the United Arab Emirates in September and October.

At the same time, England are set to be preparing for the Twenty20 World Cup with tours of Bangladesh and Pakistan.

"Usually the IPL doesn't clash with any international cricket," said Buttler. "When it does clash, probably England will take precedence."

England director of cricket Ashley Giles has previously said that the national team will take priority over the rearranged IPL.

When asked where he expects to be if there is a scheduling conflict, wicketkeeper Buttler, who plays for Rajasthan Royals, replied: "Where Ashley Giles says."

I said it before and I will say it again. The views of Giles hold no importance. If he was playing today, a nothing player like him would not even get picked in IPL for free.

The top England stars, who are also IPL stars, will play IPL irrespective of how Giles feels, even if it means ECB scrapping a home Test to accommodate IPL.

-

The bottom-line is that the English players will play in IPL no matter what. Now it is up to ECB to decide how to navigate around it.

They could agree to shorten the Test series with India or they could send their second string side for the series with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Nevertheless, whenever and wherever the IPL is resumed, the likes of Buttler, Stokes, Bairstow, Curran, Roy etc. will feature no matter what.

Awkward...

 

[Rana]

Jos Buttler expects England commitments to take precedence over rescheduled Indian Premier League

Jos Buttler expects to be playing for England rather than taking part in a rescheduled Indian Premier League.

The IPL was postponed in May and is set to be concluded in the United Arab Emirates in September and October.

At the same time, England are set to be preparing for the Twenty20 World Cup with tours of Bangladesh and Pakistan.

"Usually the IPL doesn't clash with any international cricket," said Buttler. "When it does clash, probably England will take precedence."

England director of cricket Ashley Giles has previously said that the national team will take priority over the rearranged IPL.

When asked where he expects to be if there is a scheduling conflict, wicketkeeper Buttler, who plays for Rajasthan Royals, replied: "Where Ashley Giles says."

A number of England players had been given clearance to take a full part in the IPL as it was originally scheduled, despite being rested for periods of international cricket.

Even after the IPL was postponed, almost all of those players missed England's 1-0 Test series defeat by New Zealand after being rested following a period of quarantine on their return to the UK.

Buttler, 30, has now missed England's past five Tests, in which time they have registered four defeats and one draw.

"In the past 18 months to two years, there have been some strides made, and the side is going in the right direction," he said.

"Some key personnel weren't playing in the games just gone. Things are still in a good place."

Buttler is returning to the England side for the three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka, the first of which is in Cardiff on Wednesday.

England have rotated players in 2021 in a bid to manage their workload and guard well-being in the Covid era, when so much cricket takes place in a 'bubble'.

However, with the international schedule now full until early 2022, including five home Tests against India, the T20 World Cup in India and an Ashes series in Australia, there seems little opportunity for players to take a break without being rested.

Buttler said it is the "dream" to play in all five Tests against both India and Australia, but that the full calendar is "daunting".

"I want to play as much as I can," he said. "You always want to be available for everything.

"I don't think there are any perfect answers. We play a lot of cricket and it's important for everyone to be looked after."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/57553723

Joss Butler has committed a grave mistake here....
[MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]

 

[Rana]

Dinesh Karthik confirms Pat Cummins' unavailability for remainder of IPL 2021


Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Dinesh Karthik is ready to lead the side if Eoin Morgan remains unavailable for the remainder of IPL 2021.

English players including Morgan are unlikely to feature in the rest of IPL 2021 in the UAE due to their pre-scheduled international commitments. Ahead of the T20 World Cup, the Poms will be touring Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Morgan, who guided England to World Cup glory in 2019, had replaced Karthik as the Kolkata outfit's captain last year in the UAE. Willing to lead the side again, Karthik also confirmed the unavailability of Aussie speedster Pat Cummins, who won't participate due to personal reasons.

"Pat Cummins has himself said that he will not come. But when it comes to Eoin Morgan, there are still three months to go. A lot can change from now till September. But if I am asked to lead, I will be ready for it," said Karthik in an interview with The Times of India.

In absence of Cummins, KKR will rely on the likes of Prasidh Krishna, Shivam Mavi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Andre Russell, and Sandeep Warrier. This year, Cummins spearheaded KKR's bowling attack and took nine wickets in seven games along with scoring a quick-fire half-century.

The two-time champions will also hope to get their campaign on track after enduring a shaky start in IPL 2021. They were placed seventh on the points table with just two wins when the league was postponed amid growing COVID-19 cases in its bio-bubble.

The Kolkata-based franchise had missed out on the playoffs spot last season too, finishing fifth in the league standings with seven wins from 14 games.

Disastrous investment!

How much of a refund to KKR get for him??

 

[MenInG]

In what comes as a big boost to Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises, New Zealand players are set to be available for the remainder of the T20 tournament, which is scheduled to start in September in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

With New Zealand expected to play Pakistan during that phase, many speculated that the Kiwis might give the tournament a miss.

According to reports, New Zealand players will be available for the remainder of IPL 2021. The likes of Kane Williamson, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Siefert, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Finn Allen and Adam Milne are among the Kiwis are involved with different franchises in IPL 2021.

“We are much relieved now. BCCI are in talks with English and Australian boards to come to a consensus regarding this. Given April and May are earmarked for the IPL, they are right to raise their own objections but we are now confirmed to witness New Zealand players in action,” a franchise official told a source.

However, the remainder of IPL 2021 will miss the services of England and Bangladesh players. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has already said that international fixtures would be given preference. The likes of Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Eoin Morgan, Sam Curran could miss the action in the T20 tournament.

Most of the Australian players have reportedly picked IPL 2021 over the tours of Bangladesh and West Indies. Pat Cummins is one of the names being said to have pulled out.

The IPL 2021 will be followed by the T20 World Cup, currently scheduled to be played in India, but could see it being staged in the UAE as well.

https://www.wionews.com/sports/new-...r-remainder-of-ipl-2021-in-uae-reports-393674

 

[MenInG]

IPL 2021: Australian cricketers will have to make own arrangements for return, says PM Scott Morrison

Melbourne: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday said cricketers competing in the IPL will have to make their "own arrangements" to return home after his country banned all flights from India in the wake of a deadly second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic there.

Australia on Tuesday suspended all direct passenger flights from India with immediate effect until 15 May due to the "very significant" spike in COVID-19 cases.

"They have travelled there privately. This wasn't part of an Australian tour. They're under their own resources and they'll be using those resources too, I'm sure, to see them return to Australia in accordance with their own arrangements," Morrison was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

Three Australian players - Andrew Tye, Kane Richardson, and Adam Zampa - have withdrawn from the league amid the escalating health crisis. India are recording over three lakh daily new cases and more than 2,000 deaths per day right now.

As many as 14 Australian players still remain in the IPL, including Steve Smith (Delhi Capitals), David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad), and Pat Cummins (Kolkata Knight Riders) as well as coach Ricky Ponting (DC) and Simon Katich (RCB).

Commentators Matthew Hayden, Brett Lee, Michael Slater, and Lisa Sthalekar are also among the Australians involved with the league right now.

Chris Lynn, who plays for Mumbai Indians, has requested Cricket Australia to arrange a chartered flight to take the players home after the IPL is over.

The league matches will end on 23 May, followed by the qualifiers (25 and 28 May) and Eliminator (26 May) and the final (30 May), all scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad.

Cricket Australia, on their part, have adopted a wait-and-watch approach for now.

"Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association remain in regular contact with Australian players, coaches, and commentators taking part in the Indian Premier League, which is being conducted under strict biosecurity protocols," a CA statement read on Monday.

"We will continue to listen to feedback from those on the ground in India and the advice of the Australian government. Our thoughts are with the people of India at this difficult time."

https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/sports-news/ipl-2021-australian-cricketers-will-have-to-make-own-arrangements-for-return-says-pm-scott-morrison-9569451.html

Former Australian Test great Michael Slater has broken his silence to deny a rumour following his recent ouster from Channel 7's broadcast team. Slater admittedly regrets his actions of verbally attacking Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on a popular social media platform like Twitter after he launched a series of tweets five months ago in May.

It emerged last week that the 51-year-old had been let go by the Aussie network just months out from the start of the 2021-22 Ashes series. It was reported Slater’s infamous public shaming of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison earlier this year at least partly contributed to his exit.

Slater has now revealed his anxiety from seeing dead bodies on the streets in India played a major role in his social media attack on the Prime Minister. In May. he controversially accused Morrison of having 'blood on his hands' for closing the border to Australians stuck in Covid-struck India.

After several months, Slater clarified his verbal attack but revealed that he would not apologize for anything when asked about his comments on PM Scott Morrison during an interview.

Speaking with Sunday Telegraph, he said: “I didn’t want to be disrespectful. I was highly emotional and people know I handle things differently. I was feeling completely overwhelmed. If I had my time again, bearing in mind it could have had a link to what’s just happened to me at Channel 7, no I wouldn’t do it again.”

Interestingly, Channel 7's axing of Slater has brought back the attention on the series of tweets the retired opening batsman had made including the one where he had asked Morrison to get on his private jet and 'come and witness dead bodies on the street'. It will surely be interesting if the broadcasters reinstate Michael Slater into their commentary team any time soon.

Slater had reportedly gone ballistic after Morrison as he was not allowed immediate travel permission to fly home after the IPL was temporarily suspended in the summer. The cash-rich Indian T20 mega-event was stopped mid-way due to the Covid-19 outbreak in the country.

“If our Government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home. It’s a disgrace! Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out the quarantine system. I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect.

And for those who think this is a money exercise. Well, forget it. This is what I do for a living and I have not made a penny having left early. So please stop the abuse and think of the thousands dying in India each day. It’s called empathy. If only our government had some!,” he had said aiming an attack at the functioning of the Aussie govt.

The Australian contingent had to quarantine in the Maldives for some time before returning to their home country after the postponement of the IPL.

However, Channel 7's Head of Sport, Lewis Martin revealed that the network had decided to part ways with Slater but insisted it was due to budgetary restraints. Slater joined Channel 7 in 2018 after departing from Channel Nine.

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...al-attack-on-australian-prime-minister/822651

 

[Last Monetarist]

Slater's going to find it difficult to find another broadcasting job in Australia for a while, won't be surprised to see him only work in franchise cricket around the world.