IPL suspended after more players test positive to Covid

The Indian Premier League is believed to have been suspended after another Indian player from another franchise tested positive to COVID-19.

Former Test star and cricket commentator Michael Slater has blasted the PM over the suspension of India travel.

The Indian Premier League has been suspended after another Indian player from another franchise tested positive to COVID-19.

The BCCI confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that positive tests at three franchises had forced organisers to shut down the world’s richest T20 tournament

India wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha of the Sunrisers Hyderabad, where David Warner players and Trevor Bayliss and Tom Moody coach, is the latest player to test positive.

The whole franchise is expected to be placed in isolation in an attempt to contain the virus.

That brings to three the number of franchises where players or staff have tested positive and rumours are flying around India about another player at a fourth franchise and a senior official.

The BCCI said in a statement: “The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved in organising the IPL. This decision was taken keeping the safety, health and wellbeing of all the stakeholders in mind.

“These are difficult times, especially in India and while we have tried to bring in some positivity and cheer, however, it is imperative that the tournament is now suspended and everyone goes back to their families and loved ones in these trying times.

“The BCCI will do everything in its powers to arrange for the secure and safe passage of all the participants in IPL 2021.”

Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis have been placed in isolation with their Delhi teammates.

The competition was thrown into turmoil when two Kolkata Knight Riders players, Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier, tested positive in Ahmedabad after reportedly leaving the bubble for medical treatment. There are concerns that Australians Pat Cummins and Ben Cutting, who also play for the Knight Riders, may have come into contact with the two players who have tested positive.

Monday night’s game between CSK and the Royal Challengers Bangalore was postponed because of the positive tests.

Three staff members of the Chennai Super Kings, who are in Delhi, have also tested positive. Reports from India say the bowling coach, bus cleaner and chief executive have all succumbed to the virus.

Ponting’s franchise, which also includes fast bowling coach James Hopes, have been isolated because they were the last side to play CSL — on March 27.

There are suggestions the IPL will move all its matches to Mumbai, where infection rates have dropped from the catastrophic levels of recent times.

The competition is under political pressure to continue as the Indian PM attempts to reassure his population that the crisis can be managed.

The next 24 hours will be critical. Kevin Pietersen, who is commentating on the IPL, is understood to be keen to follow Michael Slater to the Maldives.

Some Australian players were exploring that option on Monday, but none have announced their departure to this point.

Adam Zampa, who was one of three players who embarrassed the federal government by returning via Doha when Prime Minister Scott Morrison had announced that avenue was closed, said that players were already agitated by the threat of jail terms for any Australians who tried to return home.

“The agitation revolves around getting home or getting to the next destination,” he told SEN. “The general feel is that the IPL will still go ahead, I just think it’s playing a waiting game and hoping the players are safe firstly, but I sense more agitation than I did a couple of weeks ago.”

Zampa explained how he and Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate Kane Richardson got home.

“Kane and I have obviously been in the news a lot about how we got home on that Doha flight,” he said.

“As soon as we made the decision to leave, we told Simon Katich, who is the RCB coach, and he was fully supportive of it. And then we just spoke to the RCB management about getting us home.

“They booked through an affiliated travel agent and we got given the itinerary. I got it on my Qantas app. So we just followed the itinerary and that’s basically it. That’s as in-depth as it goes.”

Michael Slater, who left India for the Maldives on the weekend, launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Scott Morrison for legislating to jail anyone who returns from India,

“If our government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home,” he tweeted. “It’s a disgrace! Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this, How about sort our quarantine system.

“I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect.”

It is understood that nervous Australian players, coaches and officials, who had noted Slater’s exit to the Maldives on the weekend, are keen to learn the details of his escape.

If our Government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home. It's a disgrace!! Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out quarantine system. I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect

— Michael Slater (@mj_slats) May 3, 2021

And for those who think this is a money exercise. Well forget it. This is what I do for a living and I have not made a penny having left early. So please stop the abuse and think of the thousands dying in India each day. It's called empathy. If only our government had some!

— Michael Slater (@mj_slats) May 3, 2021

Cummins spoke to his manager Neil Maxwell on Monday afternoon and assured him he is in good health.

“Pat is perfectly fine,’’ Maxwell said. “Everyone else is fine. Two guys have it. There is no issue. They still feel quite safe and commend the way it has been handled. They are pretty relaxed about it. There are no alarm bells around it to be frank.’’

The move by the government to jail anyone who returned from India shocked the Australians.

All-rounder Daniel Sams tested positive to the virus on arrival but has since been cleared and returned to play.

Infectious disease physician Dr Paul Griffin said the positive tests should lead to the future of the competition being immediately “reassessed.’’

“Now there are positive cases inside the bubble the chances of other people inside the bubble being positive are very significant,’’ Dr Griffin said.

“It demonstrates the plan in place is not sufficient to protect players. All the players are now at some risk.”

The IPL confirmed the positives to the two KKR players and said the game had been rescheduled.

“Both the players have isolated themselves from the rest of the squad,” the IPL said. “The medical team is in continuous touch with the duo and are monitoring their health.

“Meanwhile the Kolkata Knight Riders have now moved towards a daily testing routine to identify any other possible cases and treat them at the earliest.”

Pat Cummins has been in contact with Varun Chakravarty, who has tested positive. Picture: Faheem Hussain / Sportzpics for IPL

The Indian government is determined that the IPL will continue despite the country’s ongoing COVID crisis, fearing they will lose October’s T20 World Cup in the domestic competition is shut down.

The two KKR bowlers are understood to have left the biosecurity bubble to have scans in recent days.

Cummins and his teammates will be placed in isolation and it is not known when they will be able to play again.

The greatest concern is there has been a long lag between tests and results and it is assumed the bowlers were mixing with other members of the squad in that period.

The double mutant version of the virus, which is rampant in parts of India, is far more infectious than earlier varieties.

Cummins had earlier donated $50,000 to help Indians struggling with the pandemic, which has hit that country harder than anywhere else. There were more 400,000 positive cases reported in a recent 24 hour period and death rates, which are officially around 3500 a day, are considered to be far higher than reported.

Australian spinner Adam Zampa, who left the tournament last week, had criticised the IPL’s biosecurity arrangements, saying he did not feel safe, but others have had no concerns that they have aired publicly.

Franchises have guaranteed they will do everything to get Australian players and employees home at the end of the tournament, while Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley told SEN on Monday there were no plans to hire a charter plane for the cricketers.

Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association made a donation to India on Monday.

“Australians and Indians share a special bond and, for many, our mutual love of cricket is central to that friendship,” Hockley said.

“It has been distressing and saddening to learn of the suffering of so many of our Indian sisters and brothers during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, and our hearts go out to everyone impacted.

“We were all deeply moved by the sentiments expressed and donations given by Pat Cummins and Brett Lee over the past week.

“In that same spirit, we are proud to partner with UNICEF Australia to raise funds that will help the people of India by providing the health system with much-needed oxygen, testing equipment and vaccines.”

There are still 36 Australian cricketers, coaches and commentators in India, including Test stars Steve Smith and Dave Warner and former players Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich.