On Monday, May 31, Cricket Australia’s CEO, Nick Hockley, said it was too early to say if Australian players will go to the UAE for the remainder of the IPL 2021. His statement came after the Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed the Emirates as the location for the IPL’s unfinished portion, which is expected to take place in September-October. Stay with us to know about Are Australian players playing IPL 2021?
They are reunited with their families and that they’re safe and well- Hockley
Due to a packed calendar and the fact that the T20 World Cup will be contested later this year, the ECB has previously announced that English players would not be available for the remainder of the IPL. CA, on the other hand, has remained non – committal at this point, stating that the priority is to reconnect the people who were released from quarantine on Monday with their families, as well as prepare for the upcoming West Indies tour.
“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,” said Hockley, shortly after the announcement of his appointment as full-time CEO of CA. “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.”
Are Australian players playing IPL 2021? – Group had to wait ten days before the BCCI was able to fly them to Australia
Following the IPL’s unexpected suspension due to COVID-19 positive cases within the bubble, Australia’s group – which included players, commentators, medical personnel, coaching staff, and officials – was originally flown to Sri Lanka and the Maldives due to an Indian-Australian travel ban until May 15. The group had to wait ten days before the BCCI was able to fly them to Australia on a charter flight.
Following that, the personnel were placed on a 14-day quarantine, which concluded today morning when the individuals dispersed to see their respective families. When asked about the group’s comeback, Hockley claimed they were “shaken up” by having to leave India so quickly, “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.”
Except for David Warner and Pat Cummins, opted tour players and staff will regroup at the ‘National Cricket Centre in Brisbane’
The players will now spend around a week with their families before reuniting for a journey to the Caribbean, where they will play a series of limited-overs games against the West Indies. With the exception of David Warner and Pat Cummins, who has reportedly opted out of the tour to spend time with their families, the rest of the players and staff will regroup at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane before flying out on July 10 for a series of five T20Is and three ODIs. Before flying to Barbados for the ODI phase, the players will play T20Is in St. Lucia.
“It’s a couple of weeks before the West Indies touring party regroups at the National Cricket Centre and I think that’s a time to re-focus,” said Hockley. “We really welcome the government announcements that people granted exemptions to leave Australia for work purposes will be eligible for the vaccine. So now, once the players are out of quarantine, we will be working to offer them vaccinations before heading off to the West Indies.”
