Australian cricketers, coaches, and other match officials are likely to head back home on May 16 as they are currently stranded in the Maldives after the suspension of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) earlier this month following the COVID-19 outbreak inside the bio-bubble.
The IPL 2021 season was postponed on May 4 due to a rising number of COVID-19 cases in the different franchises. Following the suspension of the IPL 14, the entire 38-member Australian contingent was forced to travel to the Maldives due to a travel ban by the Australian government from India.
As Australia banned travelers from India till May 15 due to the Coronavirus outbreak, Cricket Australia (CA), the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) and the BCCI are still awaiting confirmation from the Australian government on whether they can send the players back home after May 15.
It is being said that the Australian contingent may take a charter flight from the Maldives on May 16 and will travel via Malaysia to finally reach Sydney. The 38-member Australian contingent will have to reportedly undergo further 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Sydney.
Earlier, CA Interim CEO, Nick Hockley had hailed the BCCI, and their effort to get the Australian contingent back to their homes after the IPL 2021 was postponed indefinitely.
Hockley had stated: “I would say the BCCI have been absolutely fantastic. So they're committed to not only the first movement to either the Maldives or Sri Lanka but they're also then committed to putting on a charter to bring them back to Australia.”
On being asked if they regret letting the players go for the IPL 14, Hockley said: “No, I don't think so. I mean, our hearts go out to everyone in India. Clearly, I mean, I think the IPL, you know, put so much work, so much effort into putting on the tournament.
They obviously did that on the best available information at the time and they've come to the decision over the last 24 hours that it's in everyone's -- well, in the interests of the health and safety of everyone to suspend the tournament indefinitely.”
He signed off by saying, “At the moment -- I was on the phone to my counterpart less than an hour ago and I can't speak more highly for how the BCCI but also all of the franchises have worked to look after our players and put in plans to make sure that they get home safely and as quickly as possible.”
(With ANI/ESPNCricinfo Inputs)
