Cricket Australia’s (CA) interim Chief Executive Officer Nick Hockley has on Tuesday (May 18) confirmed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is paying for the Australian cricketers' quarantine stay in Sydney after they returned home following the suspension of the IPL 2021.
The Australian contingent of 38 members arrived in Sydney on a charter flight – an Air Seychelles plane – on Monday (May 17) from the Maldives after the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 season was suspended on May 4 due to a rising number of COVID-19 cases inside the bio-bubble.
Australian players, support staff and commentators were shifted out of India to the Maldives via chartered planes to make their way home after the travelers, including the own citizens from COVID-19 hit India were banned entry by the Australia government till May 15.
The Australian contingent was stranded in the Maldives for nearly two weeks before arriving in their home country on Monday. They will now undergo another 14-day mandatory quarantine period in Sydney before being allowed to reunite with their families.
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There were reports of special treatment being given to the Australia’s IPL 2021 members, but Hockley said BCCI paid for the whole operation, including for the quarantine across multiple hotels in Sydney.
“Yes”, Hockley replied when asked by The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald whether the BCCI was funding the quarantine stay of Australian players in Sydney.
He added, “BCCI at the outset committed to ensuring that they got home safely and as quickly as possible. We've been working closely with them. They've been fantastic. They've delivered on that promise.”
The CA CEO has also hailed the BCCI for brilliantly fulfilling their commitments and appreciated the efforts of the Indian cricket board to send their players back home safely.
Hockley signed off by saying, “The BCCI are fulfilling on their commitments. They've made good on their promise and we're extremely appreciative.”
(With ANI Inputs)
