Cricket COVID-19: Michael Slater unloads on PM in Twitter rant

An MP has hit out at Michael Slater after the former Test star challenged the Prime Minister to a debate over the controversial India travel blockade.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has accused Michael Slater of being a ‘spoiled prat’, after the former Test star hit out at the Prime Minister again.

Slater has sent several tweets this week criticising Morrison’s handling of the Indian travel blockage, and the tweets didn’t sit well with Littleproud.

“He is acting like a spoiled prat,” Littleproud said.

“No one’s underestimating the harrowing impacts on the Indian people, or on the Australians that are stuck there, but the Australian Government’s primary responsibility is to keep its people safe.

“Sometimes we have to make tough decisions for the greater good.

“Michael Slater can sit on the beach and slam us over here in Australia.

“These are tough decisions and we’re very empathetic with not only Australians there, but also those thousands of Indians that are dying every day.

David Littleproud has hit out at Michael Slater. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

“Wake up. If you want to have an adult conversation, talk like an adult.”

Slater earlier called on Scott Morrison to “take your private jet and come and witness the dead bodies on the street!” before saying he would debate him “anytime” in a series of blistering tweets.

In the latest war of words between the pair, the broadcaster returned fire after the PM dismissed his claim that the Morrison Government could be left his “blood on his hands” over the Indian flight ban.

“Amazing to smoke out the PM on a matter that is a human crisis,” Slater said. “The panic, the fear of every Australian in India is real!! How about you take your private jet and come and witness dead bodies on the street!”

Amazing to smoke out the PM on a matter that is a human crisis. The panic, the fear of every Australian in India is real!! How about you take your private jet and come and witness dead bodies on the street!

— Michael Slater (@mj_slats) May 5, 2021

And did just read greed over common sense! Your government granted me permission to work so I can pay for 3 beautiful children through school and pay a mortgage. So where does common sense lie. Not on my end!

— Michael Slater (@mj_slats) May 5, 2021

I challenge you to a debate anytime PM.

— Michael Slater (@mj_slats) May 5, 2021

He added: “I challenge you to a debate anytime PM.”

Slater escaped India to the Maldives earlier this week, claiming the PM had ‘blood on his hands’ over the decision to block travel.

Meanwhile, Michael Hussey is stranded in India with COVID-19, but the 37 other Australian who are part of the IPL will likely fly out to a second country in the next few days and await their chance to return home.

The former Australian player, who was coaching in the IPL, was confined to his room for 10 days after a second test on Tuesday confirmed his positive status.

“He has a few flu symptoms, he is not too bad,” his manager Neil Maxwell said. “His first test came back borderline positive but the second test was positive.”

Hussey confirmed to News Corp from India via text he was “OK’’ as he buckled down to ride out the period of isolation.

He will, however, have to pass two negative COVID Tests before he is given permission to leave the country.

Being admitted to an Indian hospital — if one could be found — is a terrifying prospect for all Indians and the thousands of Australians trapped in their country by the government border ban.

Michael Hussey is in isolation in India after testing positive to COVID-19. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Shortages of beds, medicines and oxygen has left people dying in the street and in some cities crematoriums cannot keep up with the demand.

The timing is terrible for Hussey as his condition was confirmed the day the IPL was suspended and means he cannot board a charter flight with his compatriots to begin an uncertain and interrupted journey home.

News Corp understands the players will fly to the Maldives (Sri Lanka is an option) as early as possible and will then board a charter flight hired by the BCCI when Scott Morrison’s border closures are lifted.

If they return before May 15 they face fines of up $60,000 and up to six years jail under controversial legislation which has been labelled racist and is being challenged in the Federal Court.

England’s players arrived home on Wednesday and players from every other nation competing are free to travel back to their families immediately.

The Australians at the IPL are being tested regularly amid concerns the virus has spread more widely. Four Indian players and four staff members in four different franchises have tested positive.

Hussey sat next to Chennai Super Kings bowling coach L Balaji on the bus in the days before the Indian tested positive.

Michael Hussey was coaching in the IPL, which was abandoned after several positive cases emerged.

He needs to pass two negative tests to clear isolation but if he does should arrive in Australia to do his two weeks of quarantine at the same time as the others.

People have become suspicious about the way the biosecurity arrangements were being adhered to inside the bubbles where the IPL bosses had guaranteed their safety.

Wriddhiman Saha tested positive on Tuesday just hours before the tournament was abandoned. It is understood the Sunrisers Hyderabad player who was staying in the next room to David Warner had flu symptoms a few days earlier, but tested negative twice before then returning a positive swab.

Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association have been in regular contact with Indian cricket bosses over the past two days to ensure safe passage for the players.

“The BBCI are working through the final details that are at the moment and we expect that movement will happen in the next two to three days,” interim chief executive officer Nick Hockley said.

“The BBCI are committed to not only the first movement to either the Maldives or Sri Lanka but they’re also then committed to putting on a charter to bring them back to Australia.”

ACA boss Todd Greenberg and Hockley defended the players who are being criticised for wanting to return home.

“We are not seeking any special arrangements whatsoever,” Hockley said. “Any quarantine arrangements will be over and above the cap.

Cricket Australia’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“Our main priority is to work with the relevant Australian governments to make sure we are not taking space of anyone else.”

The Indian cricket side was flown into NSW and quarantined in a hotel at Homebush at the start of the summer in order not to use up space for citizens returning.

The cricketers received government permission to travel to and from Australia for the tournament.

“The public will see our best Australian cricketers as almost superheroes,” he said. “They are brilliant athletes and great cricketers, but they are human beings, they’re people. Some of them are fathers and husbands.

“They are under enormous amounts of stress over there, some of them deal with that quite well, others deal with that in their own well.

“We have to treat all of them differently. This will be an experience they will probably never forget. We are going to help them as much as we can when they get home.

“Some of them will cope really well, others may need a little bit more support and counsel and that’s what we are going to do.”

The IPL and BCCI were at pains to explain yesterday that the tournament was postponed not cancelled and there is an expectation it will happen toward the end of the year in the UAE.

There is speculation games could be played as double headers in the lead up to the T20 World Cup which is scheduled to be held in October.

Fawad Ahmed was left behind in Karachi when the Pakistan Super League was suspended in March.

The spinner told News Corp at the time that he had been very sick with fever for a number of days and was distressed because his mother had earlier died of the virus.

Players have been told to isolate and must clear three tests before they are allowed to leave the biosecurity bubble.

The IPL has told them to return to their families, but the federal government has banned citizens who have been in India in the past fortnight from returning to Australia, with the threat of fines and jail terms.

The English, South African, Bagladeshi and West Indies players can all fly home.

Victorian spinner Fawad Ahmed, who had tested positive, was left behind in Karachi when the Pakistan Super League was suspended in March.

Ahmed told News Corp at the time that he had been very sick with fever for several days and was distressed because his mother had earlier died of the virus.

On Tuesday, organisers shut down the IPL after an outbreak across multiple teams, including the Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kinds, Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Dehli Capitals.

The competition was reportedly set to be moved from Delhi to Mumbai after a week’s hiatus, however, a statement from the IPL said participants will be free to leave the bubble to return to their families.

Australian and international participants have been ordered into immediate isolation after more positive cases were detected and amid fears the virus may have spread more widely.

Former Test opener Michael Slater, who launched a passionate attack on the Prime Minister on Monday, had flown to the Maldives over the weekend and that option is open to the 30 odd Australians.

There is also talk of the group ordering a charter flight to Dubai.

News Corp broke the news of the new positives on Wednesday and things moved rapidly from there.

Pace bowler Pat Cummins revealed the reality of life in India for the players when he spoke to Fox Sports on Tuesday night, before the tournament was suspended.

“Up until now I felt incredibly safe in the bubble they created,” he said. “Arriving we had to do seven days quarantine, tests every two days, we had to wear masks in the hotel, literally the only people we have seen are hotel staff who are getting tested every day and members of our team.”

Cummins said he was shocked to hear about big fines and possible jail terms for Australian citizens returning from India.

“Once we flew out from Australia we knew we faced 14 days quarantine coming home, so you always feel that little bit further away from getting home, but as soon as that hard border shut obviously no one has ever experienced that before.

“It added a little bit of anxiety for some of the Aussies over here but hopefully it all opens on May 15 and we are able to get back.”

Originally published as Cricket COVID-19: Michael Slater unloads on PM in Twitter rant