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Cricket Australia is yet to start a forum for discussing whether players will be permitted to join the tournament when the IPL 2021 resumes this year in the UAE. The involved players in the suspended tournament have completed their quarantine in Sydney and are ready to head back home.
The Australian players, staff members and commentators were transferred to the Maldives after the league was suspended and were forced to hold on the island as the Australian borders were restricted to any visitors until May 15.
“Once we get back together as a group that [the IPL] is something we’ll obviously need to discuss. Our players returning from the IPL have only today come out of quarantine, so our first priority is to make sure they are reunited with their families…we [then] have a tour to prepare for in the West Indies.” Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia’s chief executive, said.
All the nine players who came out of the quarantine on Monday are listed in the core squad for Australia’s tour ahead including Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa and Andrew Tye who left the IPL midway before the borders were shut for anyone arriving from India are incorporated as well.
However, there are reports stating the Australian star batter David Warner and most dependable bowler Pat Cummins will not be a part of the final squad allowing them to spend more time with their beloved families.
“They are clearly quite shaken by the experience and are very appreciative to be back home, very much looking forward to being reunited with family and friends today. It’s a couple of weeks before the West Indies touring party then regroups at the National Cricket Centre [in Brisbane] and then that’s the time to refocus.” Hockey added.
Hockley also mentioned that they are planning on getting all the players included in the squad vaccinated before they leave for the tour to West Indies in June end.
“We really welcomed the government announcements that people with exemptions to leave Australia for work will be eligible for the vaccine. Now once the players are out of quarantine we will be working to offer them vaccinations before heading off to the West Indies,” Hockley concluded.