Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made it clear that Australian players participating in the Indian Premier League will not be prioritized over the other Australians stuck in the country, adding that they will have to use their own resources to fly back to Australia.
According to the Prime Minister, they are not representing Australia in India and are participating in the IPL individually. They used their own resources to travel to India and will have to come back on their own. Australia has imposed a temporary ban on flights coming from India till May 15.
“They have travelled there privately,” the prime minister said when asked if the cricketers could be prioritized when flights resumed. “This wasn’t part of an Australian tour. They’re under their own resources and they’ll be using those resources too, I’m sure, to see them return to Australia in accordance with their own arrangements.”
As many as 36 Australians including 11 players, 11 coaches, 4 commentators, 2 umpires and 5 support staff are currently part of the Indian Premier League.
With flights suspended, there have been talks about CA airlifting Australian bound IPL players via charter flight. Earlier in the day, Chris Lynn also requested Cricket Australia to arrange a charter flight for the Australian players post the conclusion of the tournament.
Talking about the same, Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said that it’s a matter of the commonwealth government.
“You have purpose-built quarantine facilities in remote locations with an airstrip,” he said, offering Christmas Island as an example. “I just urge the commonwealth government to take action and make sure they use the facilities that were made available.”
Before coming into the IPL, the Australian players signed a NOC which mentioned that CA won’t provide any charter flight to lift them back to Australia. However, the stance could change considering the concerning situation in India.
Due to the growing concerns of COVID-19 in India, three Australians, Andrew Tye, Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa have already pulled out of the Indian Premier League.
Also read Zampa and Richardson still stuck in India
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