Australia and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) speedster Josh Hazlewood admitted that he is a “little bit” concerned about the COVID-19 outbreak in the CSK set-up in Dubai ahead of the upcoming 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 starting on 19th September.
There have so far been 13 members of the CSK camp including two players tested positive for COVID-19 during the 6-day quarantine period in the UAE.
However, they have been shifted to a separate hotel, while the other team members set for another six-day isolation period – which has delayed the start of the team's training, as well as, put into doubt the early IPL 2020 schedule.
Now, the CSK players are likely to begin training only in the first week of September following the big setback.
However, Hazlewood is currently focusing on the limited-overs series in England but is being kept up to date with developments through CSK’s WhatsApp group.
As per ESPNCricinfo, Hazlewood stated: “We have a group on WhatsApp with all the information that comes through, it's obviously a little bit of a concern. Ideally, you'd have no cases, they are in quarantine now and I think that finishes up in the next few days. All my focus is on this tour at the moment and when the IPL comes closer we'll think about that.”
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There are 13 Australian players on the England tour with IPL 2020 deals but Hazlewood denied much talk about the CSK's COVID-19 outbreak among the other IPL-bound players or any direction on the matter from Cricket Australia at the moment.
The Aussie pacer continued, “We haven't spoken too much about it yet, it's a few weeks away until we get there. I assume those things will come up if cases are still happening closer to the date, then we'll touch base with Cricket Australia and have a chat.”
However, Hazlewood, who was bought for his base price of Rs 2 crore by CSK for the IPL 2020, is excited to join the franchise for the upcoming tournament.
The 29-year-old continued, “We haven't thought too much about it. It [IPL] is a few weeks away. If there are [coronavirus] cases still happening closer to the [starting] date then we will touch base with Cricket Australia and have a chat.”
Hazlewood signed off by saying, “As far as chances are concerned CSK are always in the semis... always played their part in the final series. It is my first year there, but it will be no different. They are always a strong side - a big franchise always there to win it.”
