Cricket Australia remains non-committal regarding their players’ participation in the UAE leg of the IPL 2021, with board CEO Nick Hockley stating the immediate focus is on ensuring they safely reunite with their families after extended isolation.
The BCCI confirmed last week that the remaining 31 matches of its annual T20 league will now be held in a new window in September-October in the Middle East. But the participation of foreign players is a major headache for the Indian board, as they are either wary of bio-bubble fatigue or have international commitments coinciding with the rescheduled tournament.
England have already confirmed they won’t be making any more adjustments in their calendar and not send back Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes when the tournament resumes in September – a body blow to the IPL.
Australia, on their part, have declined to comment whether they’ll be sending their cricketers for the rest of IPL 2021 or not. Hockley, who has just been given the CEO duties on a full-time basis, said CA’s immediate attention is on players’ well-being. Top Aussie cricketers have finally come out of the quarantine and are allowed to meet their family members, with the next international assignment slated for July in the Caribbean.
“Our players from the IPL only today came out of quarantine, so our first priority is to make sure they are reunited with their families and that they’re safe and well,”
“We’ve obviously got a tour to prepare for in the West Indies but once they’re out of quarantine and we get back together as a group, that (IPL participation) is something we’ll need to discuss.”
Hockley was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
With the Australian government suspending all flights from and to India due to the ravaging second wave of the pandemic here, the entire Aussie contingent involved in the IPL 2021 was sent to Sri Lanka and the Maldives after the tournament was postponed on May 4.
The contingent, featuring cricketers, support staff, commentators and others, went through a 10-day isolation phase in the two Island countries before departing for Australia and went through another 14-day period in quarantine upon reaching Down Under.
Such an extended period leaving secluded from the rest of the world can take a lot of mental toll on the players, and CA is very much aware of the difficulties players have faced in dealing with it.
“We’ve been texting, and I’ve spoken to a couple of the broader group, not just the players but there’s commentators, match officials and physios. They are clearly quite shaken from the experience, very appreciative to be home back here in Australia,”
Hockley said.
The players will now spend some time with their families before reuniting ahead of the West Indies series, where Australia play five T20Is and three ODIs in July. Reports suggest that Cummins and David Warner have opted out of the Caribbean sojourn to spend more time at home. The rest of the Aussie players and support staff, however, will regroup at the NCC in Brisbane before travelling for the limited-overs assignment.
Hockley informed that the players will be vaccinated before they board the flight for West Indies. The board CEO expressed gratitude towards the Australian government, which has started the initiative to vaccinate those required to fly out of the country for work commitments.
Australia take on West Indies in the first of five T20Is in St Lucia on July 9. They also face the hosts in a three-match ODI series in Barbados, part of the ICC Super League, beginning July 20.
