Safety concerns for Ricky Ponting and other Aussie cricketers, coaches amid India and Pakistan border conflict
Ricky Ponting’s Punjab Kings are in the vicinity of the Kashmir hot spot of the current India and Pakistan conflict with Cricket Australia closely following the situation.
RICKY Ponting’s Indian Premier League team could have their next match moved away from the Himalayas as a safety response to escalating tensions on the nearby India-Pakistan border.
Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association have thrown its support behind a large group of Australian players competing in both the IPL and the PSL in Pakistan as the two nations exchange fire.
There are 15 Australians, including star bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, involved in the Indian Premier League while four players, including David Warner, are playing in the Pakistan Super League which finishes on May 18.
Dharamsala, the mountain-base of Ponting’s high-flying Punjab Kings is in the vicinity of the Kashmir hot spot and all airports in the border region have been shut until May 10.
That means Punjab’s match against Delhi Capitals on Thursday night was to remain in Dharamsala, but there is consideration to moving their next home fixture against Mumbai Indians on May 11 to Mumbai.
Punjab features a host of Australian stars including Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, BBL sensation Mitch Owen and Xavier Bartlett, as well as coaches Ponting, James Hopes and Brad Haddin.
“We are closely monitoring the situation in Kashmir, including continuing to obtain advice and updates from the Australian Government and the PCB and BCCI,“ a Cricket Australia spokesperson said.
There have been reports in the London Telegraph that some of the English players in the Pakistan Super League are considering leaving the tournament and that players were “split’’ in their views on whether they should stay or return home.
Any player who leaves the PSL will pay a financial cost because players are paid by the match.
The Australian Cricketers Association has been in touch with Australian players in both competitions offering advice and support and promising to be on hand if any player needs specialist advice as tension escalated after India launched missile attacks on Wednesday in what in Pakistan has described as “an act of war.’’
Pakistan’s armed forced has been given permission to take “corresponding actions’’ in the dispute which flared two weeks ago after a terrorist attack killed 26 people in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.
As yet, there has been no moves by any player to return home and across the board in both Pakistan in India, Australian players appear comfortable with the safety protocols in place.
Andrew McShea, who manages Queensland batsman Max Bryant who is playing for the Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan League, said Bryant has only two games left and was expecting, at this stage, to see out his commitment.
“Obviously we are watching things very closely and the ACA have been outstanding in their proactive communication,’’ McShea said.
“Based on the information available there is a level of comfort at the moment but it is something the players and agents will continue to keep a close eye on.’’
Such is the tension between the two nations that television broadcasts of the Indian Premier League are banned in Pakistan, just as the PSL is in India.
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