We will ensure you reach home seamlessly: BCCI to foreign players

Indian cricket broad assures foreign players, coaches participating in the IPL of safe return once the tourney is over after Oz suspends flights from the country

We will ensure you reach home seamlessly: BCCI to foreign players

SRH's David Warner

The BCCI stepped in to assuage apprehensions of IPL’s foreign recruits, especially Australians, as a second wave of COVID-19 infections battered India, prompting the government Down Under to suspend air travel with the country besides asking players to make their “own arrangements” while returning.

The fear of being locked out of their own nation drove the likes of Andrew Tye to take an early flight back to Australia while Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa also exited their franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore’s bio-bubble on Monday.

A day later, Australia announced that it was suspending air travel to and from India till May 15 amid the swirling COVID-19 cases. The BCCI wrote to the foreign players telling them that their safe return home will be its responsibility once the tournament ends on May 30.

“We understand that many of you are apprehensive about how you will get back home once the tournament concludes...we want to apprise you that you have nothing to worry about,” BCCI COO Hemang Amin said in a letter addressed to the players.

“The BCCI will do everything to ensure that you reach your respective destinations seamlessly. The BCCI is monitoring the situation very closely and is working with the government authorities to make arrangements to get you home once the tournament concludes.

“Be rest assured that the tournament is not over for BCCI till each one of you has reached your home, safe and sound,” he added.

Lynn hopes for special flight

Mumbai Indians’ Australian batsman Chris Lynn hoped that Cricket Australia would arrange a chartered flight for those who have stayed back after CA checked on their travel plans.

“I texted back that as Cricket Australia make 10 per cent of every IPL contract was there a chance we could spend that money this year on a charter flight once the tournament is over?” Lynn told News Corp media.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison ruled out any government assistance and said that those in the IPL will have to make their own arrangements for return. “They have travelled there privately. 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,” Morrison was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

As of now, the IPL still has 14 Australian players, including big names like Steven Smith (Delhi Capitals), David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad) and Pat Cummins.
Ricky Ponting (DC) and Simon Katich (Royal Challengers Bangalore) are among the high-profile Australian coaches, while iconic former players such as Matthew Hayden, Brett Lee and Lisa Sthalekar are part of the tournament’s commentary team.

No concerns have so far been publicly expressed by the IPL’s top England and New Zealand players even though their cricket boards have issued statements that they are constantly monitoring the situation.

Lee donates bitcoin

Meanwhile, inspired by his countryman Cummins’s gesture, former Australian pacer Lee on Tuesday decided to donate one bitcoin (approximately Rs 40 lakh) to help India in its fight against the raging COVID-19 pandemic. Cummins on Monday won lots of hearts when he announced a USD 50,000 (approx Rs 37 lakh) donation towards the PM CARES Fund.

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