IPL 2021: CA Chief Executive Nick Hockley Says Australian Players' Participation For The UAE Leg Yet To Be Discussed

A few hours after Nick Hockley was announced as the permanent Chief Executive of Cricket Australia, he addressed the IPL 2021 issue for his countrymen. The Australians, including the players, officials, commentators, and coaches, have spent a stressful two months before reuniting with their families. Nevertheless, Cricket Australia Chief Executive Nick Hockley revealed that they are yet to discuss the players’ participation in the second phase of IPL 2021 as they have a few crucial things to look ahead.

Last week, the BCCI announced that IPL 2021, which they postponed on the 4th of May due to the uncontrollable second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak, will resume in the UAE in September. With the Australian borders shut and flights from India restricted till the 15th of May, all the contingents travelled to the Maldives. They returned to Australia once it opened and spent another two weeks in quarantine before meeting their families. With a busy international season ahead, their participation in IPL 2021 is certainly in doubt. Notably, former Australian batsman and Chennai Super Kings’ assistant coach Michael Hussey tested positive for COVID-19.

Nick Hockley remarked that once they get back together as a group, they all need to discuss the IPL 2021 issue. Hockley revealed that their priority was to ensure the players are back to their families, having come out of quarantine today. He remarked that they have a critical Caribbean tour to prepare for, which they will prioritize.

“Once we get back together as a group IPL is something we’ll obviously need to discuss. Our players returning from the IPL have only today come out of quarantine, so our first priority is to make sure they are reunited with their families. We then have a tour to prepare for in the West Indies,” Hockley told ESPN Cricinfo.

They are clearly quite shaken by the experience: Nick Hockley

Nick Hockley further claimed that the Australian players have been nervous about the experience back in India and glad to be back home, rekindling with their friends and families. The Cricket Australia boss underlined the West Indian touring party will gather at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane to focus on the white-ball games in the region.

“They are clearly quite shaken by the experience, and are very appreciative to be back home, very much looking forward to being reunited with family and friends today. It’s a couple of weeks before the West Indies touring party then regroups at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane and then that’s the time to refocus,” he added.

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