The Australian contingent, who were in quarantine in Maldives after the postponement of IPL 2021, have arrived back in the country where they will undergo a 14-day quarantine in Sydney.
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The IPL 2021 postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic posed a massive logistical challenge for the Australian cricketers. Prime Minister Scott Morrison had ordered a temporary ban on flights from India until May 15. A group of 38 players, coaches, officials and TV commentators were in Maldives. They left India on May 6 aboard a charter flight arranged and paid for by the BCCI. Two days ago, the Australian government lifted a temporary ban that threatened citizens attempting to return from India with jail. This paved the way for the Australian cricketers to return.
According to an ABC report, Steve Smith, Daniel Sams, Pat Cummins and David Warner were onboard Air Seychelles that arrived in Sydney. Morrison said the cricketers were not given special treatment. They would be coming back “under their own steam, on their own ticket”. According to the health advisory, the Australian players returning from Maldives will undergo a 14-day quarantine in a Sydney hotel.
Before the travel ban, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson and Andrew Tye left IPL 2021 to return to Australia. Before the ban was imposed until May 15, all the three Australians returned home. They completed their quarantine last week. Zampa and Richardson played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2021. Tye was part of the Rajasthan Royals.
Before leaving, Tye had questioned the franchises and was critical of the franchises spending insane money on cricket at a time. “Looking at it from an Indian point of view, how are these companies and franchises spending so much money. If sport can be those avenues to relieve stress, I think it should go ahead,” Tye told Cricket Australia.
However, the plight of the Australian players who could not return back to the country was amplified when Michael Slater, current commentator and former Australia cricket team opener, criticised PM Morrison.
Slater, who was in India as a broadcaster for the Indian Premier League (IPL), accused the government of neglecting Australians who cannot return home because of the current travel ban. “If our Government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home. It’s a disgrace!! Blood on your hands, PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out the quarantine system. I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect,” Slater had tweeted.
With Australia not playing any cricket for the next couple of months, they will be aiming to prepare full tilt for the ICC World T20 and the Ashes.
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