Australians will remain in Maldives until May 15.
Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) have on Thursday (May 6) confirmed that Australia’s Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) contingent has been safely transported to the Maldives from India after the IPL 2021 got postponed on May 4.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL Governing Council on Tuesday postponed the IPL 14 mid-way after the COVID outbreak in team bubbles.
The Australian contingent was the biggest overseas contingent in the IPL 2021 with close to 40 members and was stranded in India due to a travel ban imposed by the Australian government till May 15th.
However, the CA and BCCI have found a way to send back the Aussie players as soon as possible.
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The BCCI sent the Australian players, coaches, and commentators to the Maldives where they will stay until the travel ban ends on May 15, and then take the flight to Australia.
The CA and the ACA said in a joint statement, “We can confirm that Australian players, coaches, match officials, and commentators have been safely transported from India and are en route to the Maldives.”
The statement further reads: “The Australians will remain in the Maldives until the conclusion of the travel pause pertaining to flights from India to Australia. As previously stated, CA and the ACA are not seeking an exemption from the Australian Government.”
CA and the ACA also thanked the BCCI for arranging Australian players’ departure from India to the Maldives so soon. It added: “CA and the ACA extend their sincere thanks to the Board of Control for Cricket in India for their responsiveness in moving the Australians from India to the Maldives less than two days after the decision to indefinitely postpone the Indian Premier League.”
The Australian board also made it clear that former Australian cricketer and Chennai Super Kings’ batting coach Mike Hussey will remain in India since he was tested positive for the COVID-19 and they are in touch with the BCCI to ensure his return.
The statement concluded, “Mike Hussey remains in India having tested positive to COVID-19. Mike is experiencing mild symptoms and is in the care of his IPL franchise, the Chennai Super Kings. CA and the ACA will work closely with the BCCI to ensure Mike’s safe return to Australia when it is safe to do so.”
(indianexpress.com inputs)