Richardson and Zampa beat border closures to escape India

Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson made it out of India but stars including Steve Smith, David Warner and Pat Cummins chose to play on.

Adam Zampa has escaped India and is en route to Australia. Picture: Christian Gilles

Australians Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson managed to make a last-minute charter flight out of India, beating border closures by hours and are expected to make it home to Australia on Thursday.

The pair’s desperate escape came hours after Scott Morrison told players they were on their own and would receive no special treatment as Australia closed borders to India until mid May.

While some of the Australians participating in the IPL are reportedly concerned for their safety others are happy to continue as the pandemic rages out of control in that country.

There are close to 40 Australians participating in the IPL with coaches, physiotherapists and commentators as well as players hired by various franchises.

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There is a fierce debate in cricket over the propriety of holding the domestic tournament as the smoke from thousands of funeral pyres lingers and ordinary people die for want of oxygen, hospital beds and treatment.

Zampa and Richardson were able to secure seats on somebody else’s charter flight, but spent half a day unsure whether they would be able to leave.

Richardson has a young child and Zampa could not risk the uncertainty around returning later as he is due to wed in June and had previously postponed that event twice because of Covid.

The IPL and BCCI have discouraged mention of the humanitarian crisis during the broadcasts but recently encouraged public service announcements during the broadcast of matches.

Delhi coach Ricky Ponting is one of the few participants in the tournament prepared to acknowledge the situation.

“There’s a strange feeling amongst our team right now,” Ponting said. “We are very aware of what is happening outside and through greater India at the moment.

“Obviously our hearts go out to every single person in India who is struggling with what is happening with Covid.

“We’ve had one of our players leave, Ravi Ashwin left to be with his family so it is probably affecting us and we are talking about it more than most teams are.

“There’s been some other revelations last night and today with decisions our government has made as far as Australians returning who have been in India.

“There’s no doubt there have been a few distractions along the way, but the travel side of it for us foreigners that are here is only a small part of what we are talking about and thinking about.

“On a daily basis we are thinking about what is happening outside and we understand how blessed we are to be able to turn up and do what we did tonight (play).

“Hopefully there are people around India who have got some enjoyment out of watching a great game of IPL cricket.”

Australian Cricketers Association chief Todd Greenberg insisted on Wednesday that the players who remain are not seeking any preferential treatment for their return in early June.

“We have a great duty of care to our players. What we are trying to do is give them as much as of the real-time information as possible … trying to reduce the anxiety,” Greenberg told SEN.

“They are obviously wonderful athletes and cricketers, but they are just like you and I, they are human beings and vulnerable to other challenges … we have to support them and assist them.

“In a best-case scenario, the COVID situation stabilises and life returns to some sort of some normality, and at the end of the tournament players can book their flights home. But we also have options A, B, C and D.

“We might have to work with the owners of the franchises to get charter flights for them to come home, that is certainly a viable option.

“With the spirit of co-operation we have got … I am sure we will be able to find a consolidated plan. We have time and space to be able to do that and fill our players with confidence.”

Indian cricket will be aware that it needs to pull the IPL off without a glitch as it is due to host the T20 World Cup later in October and November.

Indian cricket boss Hemang Amin wrote a letter to the international players early in the week assuring them they would be returned to their home ports and insisting it was right to continue with the tournament.

“While you go about playing the sport, we all love, you are also doing something really important,” he said.

As some of you have said, “if we can help distract people from all the troubles of recent times, even if it is for a short while, we have done a great job”.

“When you all walk out onto the field, you are bringing hope to millions of people who have

tuned in. If, even for a minute, you can bring a smile on someone’s face, then you have done well. While you are professionals and will play to win, this time you are also playing for much more important … humanity.”