Marcus Stoinis gives up six-figure deal in Caribbean Premier League due to coronavirus concerns

On the verge of a possible Australia recall and unwilling to compromise his health with a big IPL payday on offer, Marcus Stoinis has decided to pull the plug on his participation in the Caribbean Premier League.

Marcus Stoinis during his epic century against the Sydney Sixers at the SCG in January. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Marcus Stoinis has given up a six-figure payday for the sake of his personal safety and international cricketing future.

The Twenty20 destroyer has pulled out of this year’s lucrative Caribbean Premier League due to uncertainty over the coronavirus and the fact he looks set to make a long-awaited return to Australia’s limited overs set-up.

Having not been seen since last year’s World Cup, Stoinis is firming for a likely come back to the Australian set-up for the upcoming white ball tour of the UK in September, although selectors will hold off on naming a final squad until Government exemptions are confirmed.

Watch every ball of the Pakistan Tour of England Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your free trial now & start streaming instantly >

Marcus Stoinis is looking to force his way back into the Australian team.

CRICKET NEWS

Summer of ‘trauma’ broke, then rebuilt Maxy

Pandemic money drain threatens to stump Shield

The prospect of finally returning to the international fold after 12 months on the outer, is undoubtedly a major factor in Stoinis’ decision to pull the pin on the Barbados Tridents in the CPL. But there is also another reason why he can’t afford to be trapped in the COVID-19 hit Americas.

The star all-rounder has a $940,000 contract with Delhi in the IPL and could potentially jeopardise that massive deal if he was to contract the virus in the West Indies, or fall victim to border closures in the Caribbean or United States.

It’s understood Stoinis has told West Indies officials he’s determined to play in the Caribbean in the future, but trying to globetrot between tournaments at the moment was too great a risk.

That said, Aussie stars Chris Lynn and Chris Green are prepared to roll the dice. They’re both in the Caribbean for the start of the CPL on August 18, and will then make their way to the UAE for the IPL.

Lynn is on $408,000 at the Mumbai Indians and will be looking for a big IPL, while Green is making his debut for the Kolkata Knight Riders, after his suspect bowling action was given the green light by cricket officials.

Neither Lynn or Green are in Australian contention though, and if Stoinis is picked by Justin Langer in a final squad of 18 or 20 for the UK, he must fly with the squad from Perth around August 21 to be a part of the strict biosecurity bubble.

Chris Lynn is still heading over for the Caribbean Premier League.

NSW star Sean Abbott is expected to make the final Australian squad after travelling to South Africa earlier this year, while there is the prospect of some fresh blood in the shape of Riley Meredith and Josh Philippe.

Victorians Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell are still able to train in Melbourne, and awaiting government permission to fly out of the state for the England tour.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia has announced that a top end Twenty20 series against West Indies scheduled for October has been postponed.

The matches were designed as World Cup warm-ups, but now that tournament is off, there is no sense flying West Indies out in the COVID-19 era.

It’s likely three T20s against India, which were also World Cup warm-ups, will also fall by the wayside.

There was hope that they could be rescheduled at a different time in the summer, but Cricket Australia is running out of room on the calendar if it wants to prioritise keeping its Afghanistan Test alive.

Originally published as Marcus Stoinis gives up six-figure deal in Caribbean Premier League due to coronavirus concerns