IPL 2021: Australian ODI stars in risk of missing their international duty

Already the likes of Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson have left the Indian Premier League (IPL) midway. And, Chris Lynn had asked Cricket Australia to arrange for the travel of the Australian players back home. And for that, the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had stated that the players have to arrange for their own travel as they are not on national duty.

There is surely a lot of confusion going on right now. Also, Australia is scheduled to tour the West Indies in June for a limited-overs series. Australia has right now suspended passenger flights from India till 15th May 2021.

And, if Australia decides to extend the suspension, it would mean that some of the Australian stalwarts who are part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) might have to give the limited-overs series against West Indies a miss. There is also the mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine that all the players will have to undergo as well.

“We are monitoring it almost daily,” says Justin Langer

Australia’s Head Coach Justin Langer has stated that the situation is monitored on a daily basis. Langer further added that all the Aussie players who are supposed to be a part of the tour to the West Indies are slated to come back to the land of the kangaroos 26 days before Australia leaves for the West Indies.

“We’re monitoring it almost daily. There’s no doubt about that. As it stands now, the guys will come back about 26 days before we’re supposed to leave for the West Indies tour, so we’ll be watching it closely,” said Langer on Fox Cricket.

Langer further added that all the players will be watching the situation closely as most of them have now spent more than 12 months away from their families.

“And I think there’s no doubt the players will be watching it more closely with the time they’ve already spent away from their families in the past 12 months or so, and knowing what’s coming up,” added Langer.

Langer further revealed that he has spoken with a lot of Australian players and most of them state that because they are living in such a tight bubble, they are not aware of the situation outside that is going on in India.

“Something I’ve picked up from Australia is a lot of the players because they’re living in such a tight secure bubble … they don’t necessarily realize this incredible crisis that’s going on in the country,” concluded Langer.

Australian cricketing legend Brett Lee, who recently donated 1 Bitcoin to support India’s fight against Covid-19 stated that no Australian cricketer can be blamed for wanting to go back home and see his family. Lee concluded by stating that the Aussies who wish to stay back cannot be blamed either.

“It’s a case-by-case situation where you can’t blame an Australian player if he wants to go home and get back to his family. And you also can’t blame an Australian player who wants to stay and play the rest of the IPL,” concluded Brett Lee.