IPL 2021: Indian-Australian community leaders slam the request of charter flight to fly home IPL players from India amid second wave of COVID 19

IPL 2021: Indian-Australian community leaders slam the request of charter flight to fly home IPL players from India amid second wave of COVID 19

Australians Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Ricky Ponting, Glenn Maxwell and David Warner

India has been hit hard by the second wave of the COVID 19 pandemic with a number of daily infections crossing 400,000 on Saturday. The recent development has prompted numerous countries to impose travel bans on passengers from India. The new restrictions are now a cause of headache for Australian players taking part in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

While some Aussies have decided to return home early, 12 players, including the likes of David Warner, Steve Smith and Pat Cummins, have decided to stick it out until the end of the season. Barring the players, eleven coaches, including Ricky Pointing, as well as support staff, commentators and umpires from Australia, have also chosen to stay. This has forced Cricket Australia to ponder on ways to get them back to their country safely.

The CA seems to considering facilitating a charter flight to bring them home. The move has invited widespread criticism from community leaders Down Under. The fact that the move comes while more than 9000 Australian citizens are believed to be trapped in India, is what is fueling the criticism.

Community leaders upset over request as COVID-19 ravages in India

Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia

The community leaders seem to be annoyed by the fact that while rich cricketers receive preferential treatment, Australian citizens are trapped helpless. Many believe that if CA go through with the plan, it will not be well received by the Indian-Australian community.

“These players are celebrated as big stars that have been picked up in the auction for sums of money. They’ve gone there to further their own financial fortunes,” India Sports Club president Raj Natarajan said. “My brother and mother are still there. They are all doing it very tough. They seem to have a different rule for the celebrities and that wouldn’t wash well with an ordinary Australian citizen.”

Also Read | IPL 2021: Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier test positive for COVID-19; KKR vs RCB match postponed

“The situation has been going on since February onwards. They would have all known. They made a business decision. That applies to anyone else who has gone to India for business,” Sydney Sindhi Association president Naveen Nankani said. “They’ll have the vaccines before everyone else did. It would be unfair if others are not allowed to come home just because they can’t manage it of their own accord.”

Earlier Chris Lynn had requested CA for a chartered flight for the players taking part in IPL 2021. He asserted that the governing body could spend some money from the 10% they receive from every IPL contract.

Former Australian captain Mark Taylor slammed the request telling Chanel 9’s Sports Sunday: “I think Chris Lynn’s comments were very rich, absolutely. The 10 per cent Cricket Australia does receive from a player’s contract over there surely has got something to do with actually providing the cricketer with some coaching, education along the way to become an IPL-worthy cricketer.”

The matter worsened as an IPL 2021 game between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders was postponed today. BCCI took the step after two KKR players tested positive for the virus. This puts the future of the league in serious jeopardy.

Also Read: IPL 2021: KKR vs RCB match at risk of being postponed after several players fall ill