Big Bash 2021: Melbourne Stars look to expedite quarantine process for Andre Russell and Qais Ahmed

After a humbling start to their Big Bash campaign, the Melbourne Stars are hatching a unique plan to get two big-name overseas recruits into their next line-up on Friday night.

West Indies' Andre Russell plays a shot during the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and West Indies at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on November 6, 2021. (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE / AFP)

Andre Russell could be given a separate MCG dressing room and private transportation on Friday night to help Cricket Australia sign off on his availability for Melbourne Stars’ first home game of the summer.

Stars are desperate for the megastar allrounder and leg-spinning sidekick Qais Ahmed to light up the ‘G before they have finished serving a four-day integration period that has been imposed by Jolimont powerbrokers.

While Russell hasn’t officially been announced as what will be the Big Bash League’s No.1 signing, it is understood that a short-term contract with the Stars has been agreed to and the final paperwork could be lodged as early as Tuesday.

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Andre Russell would be a huge addition for the struggling Stars.

Pakistan speed machine and T20 World Cup destroyer Haris Rauf is also expected to return to the green team in late December, meaning the Stars could soon have injured Aussies Marcus Stoinis, Joe Burns, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Liam Hatcher plus recruits Rauf, Russell and Ahmed power up the team that lost to Sydney Sixers by 152 runs on Sunday night.

But the race is on to get Russell and Ahmed into Glenn Maxwell’s XI for Friday’s match against Sydney Thunder.

Russell (West Indies), Ahmed (Afghanistan) and back-up quick Ahmed Daniyal (Pakistan) are all understood to be on their way to Sydney to complete 72 hours’ quarantine fresh from blitzing the T10 tournament in Abu Dhabi.

Russell thumped 90 not-out off just 32 balls in Saturday’s T10 final after smacking 39 (14) and taking 2-27 in a qualifying final the previous day.

Stars general manager Blair Crouch was unable to confirm Russell’s signature, but said a plan was being hatched to make this week’s recruits available against Thunder.

“Everybody’s coming in via Sydney and then they’ll be there in isolation for 72 hours,” Crouch said.

Andre Russell has appeared in the Big Bash since his days with Sydney Thunder.

“We just try and find appropriate accommodation where they’ve got a balcony and they can enjoy a bit of fresh air.

“As soon as they arrive in Melbourne there’s still an integration period, which technically is another four days.

“But because we want to get them into the team as quickly as possible, we’ll work with Cricket Australia on trying to find a way where we can integrate them a bit more quickly.

“Exactly what we have to do to abide by a different level of protocols we’re yet to have confirmed.

“Maybe it is separate transportation (to the MCG), maybe it is separate dressing rooms – any of that falling under a different level of protocol we have no issue in executing.”

Russell, 33, is one of the world’s best T20 players and starred when Thunder beat Stars in the MCG final six seasons ago.

Glenn Maxwell can expect some reinforcements in coming games.

The gun-for-hire would combine with Maxwell to form the most devastating T20 middle order world cricket has seen, while pairing mystery spinner Ahmed with Adam Zampa promises to bamboozle batters for the bulk of the middle overs.

Stars have gone all-in on their MCG match experience with pyrotechnics to return but it could be Russell and Maxwell who let off the biggest fireworks.

Coulter-Nile has landed in Melbourne and, along with Stoinis (side strain) should play Friday night.

Stars medicos are waiting to assess Burns (knee) and Hatcher (back) before ruling on their availability.

Originally published as Big Bash 2021: Melbourne Stars look to expedite quarantine process for Andre Russell and Qais Ahmed