Premier Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Pat Cummins said that Australian players, who were playing IPL 2021, were anxious after their PM announced a travel ban from India.
The IPL 14 was suspended indefinitely after 29 games on Tuesday (4th May) as multiple COVID-19 cases emerged in the bio-bubble for the second day in succession.
With the second wave of COVID-19 raging havoc across the country, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a ban on passenger flights from India till 15th May.
While talking about the same, Australian pacer Pat Cummins said that some players from his country were anxious but they were hopeful that borders would reopen after 15th May and they could get back.
IPL 2021: Won't seek exemptions for Australian players' return - CA and ACA as IPL gets postponed
"As soon as the hard border shut, obviously no-one has experienced that before. It added a bit of anxiety for a few of the Aussies over here. But we signed up to play the tournament until the start of June. Hopefully it all reopens on May 15 and we'll be able to get back," Pat Cummins told Fox cricket.
However, later it was learned that the Australian PM also announced that if any person who had been in India tried to return home, the person may face jail time.
Addressing the same, Cummins admitted that it was shocking for them.
"Yeah, it did a little bit. Once we flew out of Australia we knew we were signing up for 14 days quarantine coming home, so you always feel that little bit further away from getting home,” he said.
Pat Cummins admitted that the BCCI tried to take IPL a step ahead of how it was held at the UAE and that, in hindsight, the authorities should have 'tweaked' a few things.
"Last year we had the IPL held over in the UAE and that was an incredibly well-run tournament. This year, they tried to push it that little step further and have it over here in multiple cities in India. I'm sure looking back they might have tweaked a few things,” he concluded.
Cricket Australia is in direct contact with the BCCI to ensure safe accommodation and repatriation of the Australian contingent.
(Fox cricket/ANI inputs)
