Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson have become the first Australians to leave the IPL since India’s COVID-19 crisis reached unprecedented levels.
Tye was hastily flown out of India on Sunday night after requesting a release from the Rajasthan Royals on personal grounds.
On Monday, Royal Challengers Bangalore announced that leg-spinner Zampa and paceman Richardson had been given permission to return home for personal reasons.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Test vice-captain Pat Cummins is staying put – for now – and has donated $50,000 to go towards more oxygen supplies for India’s under-pressure hospitals.
The star fast bowler encouraged other IPL cricketers to help out in India’s desperate fight against coronavirus.
“At times like this it is easy to feel helpless. I’ve certainly felt that of late,” Cummins wrote on social media.
“But I hope by making this public appeal we can all channel our emotions into action that will bring light into people’s lives.
“I know my donation isn’t much in the grand scheme of things, but I hope it will make a difference to someone.”
West Australian Tye was able to fly to Doha, before getting a connecting flight to Australia to start two weeks in quarantine.
It’s understood his decision had more to do with bubble fatigue, after having lived in hubs virtually uninterrupted since Australia’s trip to England last August.
However, the IPL withdrawals come amid growing unease, with the Australian government – having already reduced passenger numbers from India – reportedly set to discuss a temporary ban on all repatriation flights from the country on Tuesday.
More than a million people have been diagnosed with the virus in India in the past three days, while Australia has restricted incoming passenger numbers.
The IPL is continuing in a COVID-safe bubble, but Australian Daniel Sams caught the virus on arrival in India.
Cummins noted there was quite a bit of discussion about whether it was appropriate to continue playing the IPL as the crisis deepens.
He said been told the Indian Government believed the IPL provided a few hours of respite for the country at a difficult time.
Both Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association are adopting a watch-and-wait approach, with both organisations in constant contact with players.
As it stands, players organise their own flights out of India given the tournament is during their holiday period.
On signing a no objection certificate (NOC) with CA to play in the tournament, players were told there would not be chartered flights home.
However, the situation has since worsened in India and CA will not leave players stranded if there is no other way to return them home.
Ricky Ponting, who is in India as coach of the Delhi Capitals, described the situation as “grim”.
Marty
Roar Rookie
The continuation of the IPL may be providing a bit of distraction from the fact things have gotten so horrific they’re literally burning bodies in the street, but it also feeds into the whole ‘COVID isn’t such a big deal, we should just get on with things’ narrative that has been propagated by the powers that be and vested interests throughout this crisis, which is one of the main reasons they are in this horrible situation in the first place!
Paul
Roar Guru
The difficulty with this situation, from a players perspective is, there's no right answer. Guys might stay because based on best advice from relevant people in India, they are providing some small enjoyment for a struggling nation. By doing so, they risk upsetting others who think they're wrong to stay when they're in a bubble surrounded by suffering. If they all leave and the tournament is stopped, there'll be those who will question why, when they were actually helping the mental health of many Indian cricket fans. In some ways the players are the meat in the sandwich, with the Indian gov't, the BCCI and the franchises all having a say. Throw in concerned family back home and it's a really tough call
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I would say the older coaching staff would be 100 times more at risk than the players who would not have underlying health conditions. Older people should be the highest priority, but then you have the problem if they leave they will spead it elsewhere in regions where there is no testing and no quarantine. Should the players get preferential treatment I would say definetly not.
Richard Joe
Roar Rookie
These guys earn enough to charter their own plane out of India
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Great gesture but as a show of respect I believe they should all leave. There are 10's of thousands of people dying, the "providing a few hours of entertainment" argument is ringing empty. They are in a bubble, no crowds, no social life, no family, why stay?
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
This is very concerning for CA. The Australian players should all leave immediately. In fact all foreign player's should leave immediately. Then the return of these players to Australia becomes a major health problem in relation to quarantine.