India COVID crisis: Australian players home after IPL tournament called off

A number of Australian cricket stars are heading into two weeks of hotel quarantine after arriving back in the country from COVID-hit India, where they were playing in the IPL.

Australia’s cricketers arrived home when thousands of others are stranded in India but they were getting no special treatment on arrival in Sydney yesterday.

Sports Minister Richard Colbeck mistakenly said Cricket Australia had paid for their flights home and arranged special quarantine when it was Indian cricket who footed the bill for the special flight from the Maldives to Sydney via Perth.

On arrival there were no special exits or fast lanes for the 38 players, commentators and support staff who went to the Maldives after the Indian Premier League was postponed a fortnight ago.

Steve Smith arriving home. Picture: John Grainger

Pat Cummins. Picture: John Grainger

They were all processed like everybody else before being transported into town where they will spend two weeks in quarantine before being allowed to visit loved ones.

Most of the players are due to fly out again in July for a tour of the West Indies.

Former cricketer turned commentator Michael Slater, who had said prime minister Scott Morrison had “blood on his hands” by closing Australia’s border, was the first to exit the airport yesterday morning followed by current stars Pat Cummins and Steve Smith.

Former player Michael Slater. Picture: John Grainger

Mike Hussey arriving into Sydney International Airport after being stuck in India due to the COVID travel ban. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Former Test batsman Mike Hussey, who contracted Covid during the IPL where he was coaching, arrived from India later on Tuesday night.

Others onboard the early Qantas flight included IPL stars Moises Henriques and Chris Lynn, Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, David Hussey and former Australian women’s player turned commentator Lisa Sthalekar.

Around 9000 Australians remain in India after the first repatriation flight arrived in Darwin over the weekend.

Originally published as India COVID crisis: Australian players home after IPL tournament called off