Covid exodus from the IPL begins as Andrew Tye flies out

Authorities are organising a charter flight for players to return home from the IPL amid the COVID crisis as players jump ship.

Australian cricketer Andrew Tye arrives at Sydney after leaving the IPL Picture: Jeremy Piper

Australian cricket is hoping to repatriate up to 30 players, coaches and commentators from COVID-ravaged India, but three players have already given up on the IPL and headed for home amid concerns about the rampaging virus and border closures.

National cabinet is understood to be considering following the lead of other countries and blocking flights from India at a meeting in Sydney on Tuesday.

West Australian bowler Andrew Tye left the IPL on the weekend and the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise announced on Monday that spinner Adam Zampa and pace bowler Kane Richardson were doing the same.

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Other Australians were exploring ways to get home while the Australian Cricketers Association and Cricket Australian investigate hiring a charter plane and arranging special quarantines for the group when the tournament ends at the end of May.

Players use their own time to compete in the IPL and are not under Cricket Australia’s care or direction once they are cleared to join the tournament.

Cummins on Monday night said he was contributing $50,000 to India’s “PM Cares Fund” which purchases Oxygen supplies for local hospitals.

“There has been quite a bit of discussion over here as to whether it is appropriate for the IPL to continue while COVID-19 infections rates remain high,” he tweeted.

“I’m advised that the government is of the view that playing the IPL while the population is in lockdown provides a few hours of joy and respite each day at an otherwise difficult time for the country.”

India is recording the highest daily rates of infections for any country since the pandemic began as a new variant races through the population.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison indicated concerns with travellers introducing the virus back into Australia with an increase in positive results in hotel quarantine and in the community traced to people returning from that country.

WA Premier Mark McGowan indicated little tolerance for returning players.

“All I’d say is, going to India to play cricket at this point in time is not essential,” McGowan said.

Tye, who was signed to the Rajasthan Royals franchise, arrived home on Monday.

“From a player safety point of view OK we’re safe now, but is it going to stay safe?” he told SEN radio.

“From an Indian point of view, how are these companies and franchises spending so much money on the game and be able to spend so much money on the IPL when there’s people not being able to be accepted into hospital?”

Star Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has left the tournament to care for his family. MS Dhoni’s parents were admitted to hospital last week as the virus rages through almost every home in the country.

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— Pat Cummins (@patcummins30) April 26, 2021

Tye said other Australians may follow suit.

“A lot of the guys have been in touch today once they realised I’ve left or was leaving,” he said. “There is some concern and I’m not sure if I’ll be the only one.”

Batsman Chris Lynn made a plea for CA and the federal government to sanction the approval of a charter flight which could bring all remaining players home together at the end of the tournament.

The flight may need to be brought forward if Australia closes its borders to India.

“I texted back that as Cricket Australia make 10% 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 from India.

“I know there are people worse off than us. But we are going from a really tight bubble and are getting vaccinated next week so hopefully the government will let us get home on a private charter.

“We are not asking for short cuts and we signed up knowing the risks. But it would be great to get home as soon as the event is over.’’

Indian clinics report that over a third of tests are returning positive, officially the government is reporting the highest rate of infections of any country since the pandemic began (over 300,000) and hospitals are so overwhelmed patients are dying on the footpath.

NSW all-rounder Daniel Sams tested positive to the virus on arrival in India and is believed to have caught the virus while on the plane.

Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association are co-ordinating to arrange a collective flight home for players, coaches and commentators.

Previously the 30-odd Australians at the tournament had commercial flights home paid for by their employers (teams and broadcasters).

The players are on their own time and not the responsibility of Cricket Australia, but the organisation has made it clear it will do everything to assist.

Commentators have been told not to discuss the pandemic during the broadcasts, but Delhi coach Ricky Ponting broke the silence and admitted it was impossible to ignore it with the Indians in the IPL bubble worried for their families outside it.

“This IPL, probably more than any other, has become more about what’s happening outside than what’s happening here,” Ponting said.

“We right now are probably the safest people in the country being in the bubbles that we are in. Continually I‘m asking the boys at breakfast every day how’s everything going on the outside, how’s family, (is) family safe, (is) family happy. That’s a really important thing.

“It is really important, we are thinking about the extended family, not just us, but we’ve got to be talking about what’s happening outside because it is quite grim.

“It is hard for the players to be away from their families. I can’t imagine … Even if I put myself in this situation, guys that live in Chennai are actually home now, but can’t see their families,” he said. “It must be incredibly difficult. So the more we can share these experiences, the better off we are.

“The people that aren‘t from India, the more that we can be talking to the locals about what they are going through the better off we are all going to be. We will just keep our fingers crossed. And hope people remain safe. That’s a big thing for me: the players are taking the best care of their families where they can from the outside.”

Royal Challengers Bangalore team members, including Glenn Maxwell and Virat Kohli, released a social media advertisement over the weekend encouraging people to adopt safe practices.

Commentators were permitted to repeat similar messages after every four overs, but there is debate about the tournament continuing.

Many argue that the entertainment is needed in such a terrible time and there is a suggestion that infection rates are reduced by people staying home in the evening to watch the matches.

The New India Express and Morning Standard newspapers slapped a ban on coverage of the tournament, arguing it was inappropriate at this time.