IPL 2021: Scott Morrison Says Australia Players Have To Make Their Own Arrangements For Flying Back Home From India

With the Australian government suspending flights from India until at least the 15th of May, the anxiety has increased amongst their cricketers participating in IPL 2021. Australia has been amongst the nations to ban flights coming from India, which is battling a devastating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Scott Morrison, Australia’s Prime Minister, has clarified that players wanting to come back should make their own arrangements.

The coronavirus pandemic’s second wave has grappled India, unlike never seen before happening in any other country. The nation has seen more than 300000 cases continuously over the last few days, while the fatalities have also risen alarmingly. India has also sought help from a handful of countries for oxygen cylinders for critical patients. The vicious outbreak has forced several states to go into lockdown as well.

Scott Morrison conceded that Australia cricketers have travelled to India privately and it was not part of the Australian tour. Thus, Morrison wants the national players to use their own resources to find their way back home as they did while going to India.

“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 told The Guardian

After Andrew Tye, Kane Richardson, and Adam Zampa flew back to Australia on Monday, fearing the rise of COVID-19 in India, the players remaining in India are David Warner, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Lynn, Moises Henriques, Jason Behrendorff, Daniel Sams, Riley Meredith, Jhye Richardson, Pat Cummins, Daniel Christian, and Nathan Coulter-Nile. Amongst the coaches and commentators involved in the tournament are Brett Lee, Matthew Hayden, Lisa Sthalekar, Michael Slater, Ricky Ponting, and Simon Katich.

Our thoughts are with the people of India at this difficult time: Cricket Australia

Cricket Australia issued a statement saying that they are in touch with the Australian Cricketers’ Association remain in regular contact with Australian players, coaches and commentators taking part in the Indian Premier League, held under bio-security protocols. They will continue to listen to the advice of those on the ground and their government’s advice. They also sympathized with India in today’s catastrophic times.

“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. 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,” a CA statement read as per The Outlook.

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