IPL-based Australian Players Released From Hotel Quarantine In Sydney, Re-United With Family After 2 Months

The Australian contingent that was involved in the IPL 2021 has finally got the chance to re-mingle with their families after completing their 2-week quarantine in a hotel in Sydney.

A group of 38 Australians, which comprises players, coaches, officials, commentators, and other personnel, who were in India since April, were shifted to the Maldives following the suspension of the IPL 2021 in early May.

Owing to the surge of covid-19 cases in India, the Australian government had banned all flights from India till May 15. Hence the BCCI decided to place the Aussies in the Maldives, from where they departed about 10 days after the tournament’s postponement.

The entire group which included the likes of Pat Cummins, David Warner, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, commentator Michael Slater, were sent home by a charter flight paid by the BCCI. Michael Hussey, the Chennai Super Kings batting coach, was unable to join the Maldives group as he tested positive for the virus; after testing negative he too was sent back to Australia, but on a commercial flight via Doha.

All of them have now completed their quarantine at Sydney’s Marriot Hotel, and are happy to be reunited with their loved ones.

“It was nice to know that we were getting home that’s for sure. 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,” Jason Behrendorff was quoted by India Today as saying.

Pat Cummins unlikely to return for IPL phase 2 in UAE

Pat Cummins, the Kolkata Knight Riders fast bowler, has reportedly made himself unavailable for the remainder of the IPL 2021, which the BCCI has planned to host in the UAE in September-October.

According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, the ace seamer will be taking rest from the second phase of the IPL as he commits himself entirely to the national duties.

Following the IPL, Australia has a bumper season: the T20 World Cup is slated just after the conclusion of the IPL in October; Australia then hosts Afghanistan for a one-off Test followed by a 5-Test Ashes series against England. They have plenty of white-ball cricket as well line up before the IPL. Cummins has taken 9 wickets in 7 matches so far for KKR, who are currently 7th on the points table.

“David Warner and Pat Cummins could be rested from the West Indies tour because of family reasons – others could follow after a draining year in several bubbles – and Cummins, despite a multimillion-dollar IPL contract, has already said he will not return to the T20 tournament this season,” stated the report as quoted by Sportstar.

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