IPL: Australian cricketers stranded in India after league suspended, anxiously await lifting of travel bans

Multiple Covid-19 cases force unanimous decision to shut down league as Australian government urges patience

‘It added a bit of anxiety for a few of the Aussies over here,’ says Australia vice-captain Cummins

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A security guard wearing a face mask stands next to a hoarding of teams taking part in the Indian Premier League 2021 season, outside Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Photo: AP

Published: 1:58pm, 5 May 2021Updated: 1:58pm, 5 May 2021

The ban on travellers from India by Australia had added “anxiety” for its cricketers after the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) suspension, Australia vice-captain Pat Cummins said, as players isolated in the Covid-19-ravaged nation on Wednesday.

The Australian government has barred its own citizens from returning home within 14 days of being in India on pain of fines and jail, leaving dozens of its IPL players, coaches and officials stranded.

Australia fast bowler Cummins is isolating in an Ahmedabad hotel after two of his Kolkata Knight Riders teammates contracted Covid-19 before organisers pulled the plug on the tournament on Tuesday.

Cummins said Australia’s travel ban, which will be reviewed on May 15, had come as a “little bit” of a shock.

A worker carries chairs on a rickshaw after dismantling a temporary security installation outside Arun Jaitley Stadium, one of the six venues of Indian Premier League 2021 in New Delhi. Photo: AP

“Obviously no one has experienced that before,” he told Australian broadcaster Fox Sports. “It added a bit of anxiety for a few of the Aussies over here. But we signed up to play the tournament until the start of June. Hopefully, it all reopens on May 15 and we’ll be able to get back.”