CA remains non-committal on Aussie players’ availability for IPL’s UAE leg

The Australian players might not be available for the UAE leg of the Indian Premier League if Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley’s statements are anything to go by. Hockley, who was handed the full-time responsibility of the CEO earlier today, hinted that the players might not be willing to travel to UAE for the reaming part of the league.

"Our players from the IPL only today came out of quarantine, so our first priority is to make sure they are reunited with their families and that they're safe and well," said Hockley in a media conference after assuming his office. “We've been texting, and I've spoken to a couple of the broader group, not just the players but there's commentators, match officials and physios. They are clearly quite shaken from the experience, very appreciative to be home back here in Australia,” he added.

The Australian players and other members associated with the IPL 2021 in India, which has now been rescheduled for September 19-October 10 window in the UAE, got out of the hotel quarantine on May 31 only.

Hockley is also more concerned about the team playing together and his next focus is the Kangaroos’ tour to the Caribbean. "We've obviously got a tour to prepare for in the West Indies but once they're out of quarantine and we get back together as a group, that (IPL participation) is something we'll need to discuss,’ said Hockley.

Australia’s limited-overs tour to West Indies only begins on July 10 with the five T20Is in St. Lucia before they move to Barbados for the three ODIs. The team is likely to regroup around June 15 in Brisbane for practice before they head off to Wet Indies.

"It's a couple of weeks before the West Indies touring party regroups at the National Cricket Centre (in Brisbane) and I think that's a time to re-focus," said Hockley.

The CA also thanked the Australian government for its exemptions granted to those who have to leave Australia for work purposes. This way the Australian team will be eligible for the vaccine soon. “So now, once the players are out of quarantine, we will be working to offer them vaccinations before heading off to the West Indies,” said Hockley.

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Watch: Emotional Pat Cummins hugs pregnant wife on reuniting after coming out of quarantine

Australian Test vice-captain Pat Cummins was visibly emotional when he reunited with his pregnant wife Becky Cummins outside his Sydney hotel where he was quarantining after getting back from India post the suspension of the Indian Premier League’s 2021 edition. The video was widely shared and liked on Twitter as it captured the true emotions of the player and his partner. Reportedly, Cummins has decided to sit out of the rescheduled IPL in UAE, to spend time with family during the pregnancy of his wife. Cummins, 28 is one of the costliest players in the league and was a key member of the struggling Kolkata Knight Riders. He almost played a blinder with the bat in a game against Chennai Super Kings where he threatened to take the game away from the yellow brigade with his 34 balls 66. The New South Wales player also took nine wickets in seven games in the IPL. Post the suspension of the IPL, Australian players had spent a lot of time in the Maldives before they fulfilled the criteria to get back to the country as there are travel restrictions on travelling from India to Australia. The players further underwent hotel quarantine before they could reunite with their families.

PSL 6 to resume from June 9: Reports

The sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League won’t be starting on the earlier proposed date of June 5 after being initially postponed from June 1 and shifted from Karachi to Shiekh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The delay caused by various travel restrictions for crew and players from India and South Africa means that the tournament can only start from June 9 at the least. “South Africans Faf Du Plessis, Riley Roussow, Cameron Delport and David Miller along with Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz were among the players whose flights landed at various airports on Saturday [May 29]. Also arriving in Abu Dhabi were South African coaches, Herschelle Gibbs and Michael Smith,” The Dawn reported. All these personnel along with the remaining contingent from Pakistan were supposed to reach Abu Dhabi by May 26 and hence with the maximum of 10-day quarantine, the PSL was slated to restart on June 5 for the reaming 20 matches of the league to be completed. But with both countries on the UAE’s red-list due to COVID-19, getting visas on time became a big hurdle. More Indians and South Africans arrived in the UAE by Sunday [May 30] and since they have to complete a 10-day quarantine period, the resumption of the season will not be possible by June 5,” the report said. The PSL which started on February 20 was supposed to take place entirely in Pakistan for this edition. However, with an increase in bio-bubble breaches and subsequent COVID-19 cases in the tournament bubble, on March 4 the event was postponed.

IPL 2021 | Fans to be allowed in the stadiums; Foreign players unavailability not a problem for BCCI

Vaccinated fans will be allowed in the stadiums at 50 per cent capacity for the second leg of the Indian Premier League reported Cricbuzz quoting a board official from the United Arab Emirates. This comes soon after a delegation led by BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla reached the UAE to chalk down plans for the remainder of the IPL season. Yet to be made official, this development will depend on the local administration and if they want to formulate an event-specific rule for the tournament. While the crowd is out of the hands of the Indian delegation, the BCCI vice president made it clear that the unavailability of some top-class foreign players won’t stop them from completing the remainder of the 14th edition of the IPL. Reports in Khaleej Times state that president Sourav Ganguly, secretary Jay Shah and IPL chairman Brijesh Patel will be arriving in UAE shortly. In the Special General Meeting on Saturday, it was announced that the remainder of the IPL will be held in UAE in the September 15-October 15 window. The 14th edition of the cash-rich league was called off midway on 4 May after COVID-19 breached the bio-bubbles in both hosting venues. In all likelihood, the tournament will commence from 19 September just after the completion of India’s Test series in England. "I am already here. Now a team of BCCI office-bearers, president (Sourav Ganguly), secretary (Jay Shah) and the IPL chairman (Brijesh Patel) will be coming here in a couple of days. We will be having discussions with the cricket board here and the other authorities. And accordingly, the schedule will be made, so the tournament happens in a very smooth manner as it happened here last year," Shukla was quoted as saying by Khaleej Times. With Covid cases on the decline in UAE, the crowd might be allowed into the stadiums again. Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah have been elected as the three grounds that will hold the tournament, three venues that played host to the last year's edition. Rajeev Shukla confirmed that they are thinking of having crowds. However, that will only be possible if the Emirates Cricket Board permits. "The only issue is about the spectators, whether they will allow the spectators or not. So we will talk to them about that. We will go by whatever UAE authorities decide. If they say it’s with spectators, and a certain percentage of spectators, we are fine. Or if they say without spectators, that is also fine with us. There is no problem,” Shukla said. Shukla stated that despite the unavailability of some foreign players, their main aim is to finish the tournament and the remaining 31 matches will be held irrespective of anything. "We have discussed that (foreign players) issue also. Our main focus is on completing this edition of the IPL. It should not be left halfway through. So whichever foreign players are available is fine. Whoever is not available, it is not going to stop us from hosting the tournament,” Shukla said. "The Indian players are there, foreign players are there, but few foreign players will not be available. As I said, we have to complete our tournament. So the franchises will definitely look for other players. Whoever is available, we are going to have the tournament with them. That’s our policy,” the BCCI vice-president further added. Reports had earlier emerged that England could be the possible venue for holding the remaining IPL matches. However, Rajeev Shukla said that England couldn’t be the option citing weather issues. "The franchises are all very happy. From day one, they have been backing the UAE. There were some media reports about England (hosting the remaining matches), but there’s a weather problem in England where it rains a lot,” Rajeev Shukla said.

PSL 6: 13 players unable to board flight sent home, 17 personnel reach UAE via Bahrain and Qatar

After being denied to board a commercial flight to the United Arab Emirates, 13 players and officials who were quarantining at their hotels in Lahore have been sent home to spend some time with their families as the Pakistan Cricket Board arranges a way to get them to UAE as soon as possible. On Sunday, 30 May, it was reported by ESPNcricinfo that an 11-member contingent was denied permission to get on a commercial aircraft due to the lack of appropriate clearances required to fly to the UAE. The contingent which included the Quetta Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed have now been flown via Bahrain. “After consulting the HBL PSL 6 medical panel and taking into consideration that approval has been obtained to fly the remaining 13 players and officials on commercial flights from Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board has made arrangements to move these personnel to their respective homes,” an official PSL release said. “As soon as the visas are processed, the players will undergo the mandatory PCR tests before boarding the first available commercial flight,” the report added. While the 13 players were unable to aboard the flight, 17 others succeeded as five players and officials arrived in Abu Dhabi from Karachi on May 30 via Doha, while 12 players and officials left Lahore on Sunday, 30 May evening, to reach the UAE capital via Bahrain. “These 17 individuals were flown as per the exemption acquired from the UAE government,” the PSL release mentioned. PCB Director – Commercial and HBL PSL 6 head Babar Hamid regretted the confusion and chaos that the players had to go through. “We regret the inconvenience that has been caused to some players and officials, but these have been due to unforeseen circumstances and unexpected challenges,” he said. “The PCB is working hand in glove with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Emirates Cricket Board, and trying its best to get all participants in Abu Dhabi in time so that we can hold the remaining tournament,” Hameed added.