With the BCCI stating that the tournament is scheduled to resume this weekend following a ceasefire between the warring nations of India and Pakistan, Australian cricketers are contemplating their return to India to complete the remaining part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The suspensions of the IPL last Friday in view of the rising tensions between the two countries saw an exodus of sorts, with many Australian players who are participating in the league returning to their country.
Alyssa Healy, who was in Dharamsala with her husband Mitchell Starc when the Delhi Capitals IPL match abruptly came to a halt, said it was ‘terrifying.’ Upon arrival in Sydney on Sunday, Starc, with others, including South Africa captain Pat Cummins, are now faced with this crucial decision whether or not to fly back to India to complete the remaining matches for the IPL. Cricket Australia has expressed support for the players’ decisions; however, the World Test Championship final set for next month in London complicates the matter further.
CA’s national team boss Ben Oliver said on Tuesday. “Each player will have experienced it differently. No doubt it was an extreme situation, and we feel it’s really appropriate to support their individual experience and decision.”
The WTC final against South Africa, which will commence on June 11, sees Starc, Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, and Josh Inglis in the squad. While Sunrisers Hyderabad’s players Cummins and Head still have three games left, even though they are out of the playoffs race. However, for Inglis, Starc, and Marsh, they still have a chance to take their teams ahead in the tournament to the playoffs and probably to the semi-finals and final as well. Given the newly scheduled final on June 3, just one week before the WTC final, Cricket Australia finds itself faced with a possible logistics conundrum.
