BCCI Secretary Arun Dhumal confirms loss to the tune of 2000 Cr due to IPL 2021 suspension

ACA chief warns Australian players, asks them to choose overseas T20 leagues wisely in this pandemic

The Australian Cricketers Association chief executive Todd Greenberg gave an informal warning to the Aussie cricketers regarding their preference of playing overseas T20 leagues at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is creating a ruckus all around the world especially in India. Greenberg asked them to do their homework while choosing to play in T20 leagues in these tumultuous times. The 14th edition of the Indian Premier had to be suspended after 29 matches after two KKR players tested positive for COVID. In the next two days, more players and support staffs from different bio-bubbles started testing positive which forced the BCCI to postpone the tournament with immediate effect. This is the second tournament in a short while after the Pakistan Super League to be suspended midway. With a huge 40 contingent Australian players and commentators, all of them were stranded in India after the borders were shut for visitors travelling from India atleast till 15th May. The 14 cricketers part of the tournament is now expected to travel to the Maldives and then fly back to Australia via a connecting flight. "I'm not sure it will create reticence but it will ensure players do their due diligence before they sign agreements," Greenberg was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. "The world is literally changing before our eyes particularly with Covid and on that side of the world, obviously, those cases are going up exponentially,” he further added. Several other Australian cricketers withdrew their name from the IPL even before the start of the tournament which included the likes of Mitchell Marsh, Josh Philippe and Josh Hazlewood. Meanwhile, players like Liam Livingstone, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson and Andrew Tye pulled out midway through the tournament. They narrowly managed to fly back home just in the nick of times before the Australian government closed their borders for anyone travelling from India. "We're enjoying our freedoms here in Australia. It is a very different place over there. If anything it sends a message to players about making sure you do your homework before making any decisions," Greenberg was quoted by ESPN Cricinfo. He promised that the Australian cricketers will be taken care of after they return to the country knowing the fact that many are dealing with anxiety after the virus breached four different bio-bubbles. "I was at pains to point it out during the week, the public will see our best Australian cricketers as almost superheroes, they're brilliant athletes, great cricketers, but they're human beings, some of them are fathers and husbands and they're under enormous amounts of stress," Greenberg said. "Some deal with it differently. This will probably be an experience they will never forget. We will help them when they come home. Some will cope with it really well, others will need support and counselling and that's what we'll do,” he concluded.

IPL 2021 suspended | Kane Williamson, other England-bound Kiwi players to stay in India till May 10

In the aftermath of the suspension of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League, foreign players and support staffs have been caught in complications over going back to their homes. There are different groups of players or support staffs from New Zealand. One group of contingent have to go back to their country while the other were to embark on the tour of England after the completion of the IPL. According to Heath Mills, head of the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association, players who were to go to England will have to remain in India at least till May 10 as England have put restrictions on travellers from India that is reeling under fresh wave of Covid-19 pandemic. "Due to the UK border restrictions, that group cannot get into England until May 11. It is obviously challenging for them to wait for another few days," Mills said to ESPNcricinfo. The contingent for the tour of England includes Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson, Jimmy Neesham and Finn Allen along with trainer Chris Donaldson and physio Tommy Simsek On the other hand, contingent to go back home includes CSK coach Stephen Fleming, KKR coach Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Shane Bond, Mike Hesson, Tim Seifert, Adam Milne, Scott Kuggeleijn and James Pamment.

IPL 2021: We will come back stronger says Rajasthan Royals before leaving bio-bubble

With the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League suspended indefinitely, players from all the franchises will slowly start moving out of their respective bio-bubbles and travel back to their respective destinations. It won’t be an easy task for the foreign players as they have to travel via other routes and complete their quarantine duties before leaving for their country. The Australian players and support staffs might have to fly off to the Maldives or Sri Lanka in order to reach home. Only last week the Australian government banned travellers from India atleast till 15th May. While the IPL Hasn’t been cancelled yet, it looks highly unlikely it will return anytime soon this summer. Before leaving, the Rajasthan Royals posted a video on their Twitter handle where every player can be seen thanking the supporters for their support and also promised to come back stronger whenever the tournament restarts. The second wave of COVID-19 has left India gasping for breath. Nearly four lakh cases have been reported for several days now and the death percentage is only increasing with each day. The IPL was one of the sources of entertainment for the people in these tumultuous times but with the virus breaching respective bio-bubbles it was almost impossible for the BCCI to continue with the tournament. Coming to Rajasthan Royals there are occupying the 5th position in the points table. While they have been below par in quite a few matches, they have come out triumphant on a few occasions courtesy individual brilliance. In the last match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, it was on the back of a special knock from Jos Buttler that RR managed to thrash SRH by 55 runs.

Kyle Mayers, Bonner, Joshua Da Silva earn West Indies central contracts: Roston Chase dropped

Emerging talents such as Kyle Mayers, Nkrumah Bonner, Joshua Da Silva, Akeal Hosein have earned reckoning in the Cricket West Indies men’s central contracts for the 2021-2022 season. Along with recognising the potentials of the young players, Cricket West Indies have also awarded central contracts to experienced players such as Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard for the white-ball formats. Only Jason Holder has got the all-format contract from CWI while the newly appointed Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite along with Jermaine Blackwood, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shannon Gabriel, and Kemar Roach have got the central contracts for the red-ball format. For the white-ball formats, CWI has put their money on Kieron Pollard, Fabien Allen, Darren Bravo, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Evin Lewis, Alzarri Joseph, Nicholas Pooran and Hayden Walsh Jr. Despite many winners of the central contract of the CWI, there have been some who have been shown the exit door as well. Former vice-captain Roston Chase has lost his all-format contract while players such as Sunil Ambris, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd and Oshane Thomas have been shown the door from the contracts for the white-ball formats. “Contracts offered for the 2021-22 period sees 18 players being retained, a decrease of 4 from last year. Jason Holder is the only player to retain his all-format contract due to his strong Test and T20I performances during the evaluation period. There are several new players offered red-ball contracts earned by their strong performances during the last period. A number of players were not retained because they did not meet the minimum requirements,” said West Indies Men’s Team Lead Selector, Roger Harper in CWI statement.