IPL 2021: Mumbai Indians to send players home using special charter flights
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The Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) was suspended indefinitely from yesterday after the COVID-19 pandemic breached the teams’ bio-bubbles. More than 5 positive cases were reported in the personnel inside the bubble leaving the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) no choice, but to bring an end to the tournament, at least for the time being, with no prospect soon of a resumption in sight.
Due to the abrupt end to the tournament, the focus for BCCI has now shifted to getting the overseas players back home safely. With travel bans and the likes imposed in certain countries, there have been a plethora of logistical difficulties that the board has been dealing with and still is. While players from England have already made it (with the exception of three in Eoin Morgan, Chris Jordan and Dawid Malan), the other overseas players have not yet made it back home.
There has especially been huge concern over the Australians due to the imposition of a strict travel ban on flights from India. This ban which continues till May 15 has left the Australians stranded in India. There are now plans to shift them to either Sri Lanka or Maldives before being allowed to return home after the ban is lifted.
Mumbai Indians’ charter flights likely to be joined by other team players
According to Cricbuzz, the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchises have reportedly planned to send all their overseas players through their own charter flights arranged by the owners. Further, MI have also offered other franchises’ players to join them. It is noteworthy that there are no England players in MI and hence, the flights won’t be bound for the UK. However, the flights are bound to travel to South Africa, New Zealand and the Caribbean Islands.
There are four New Zealanders in the MI camp with players Trent Boult, Adam Milne and Jimmy Neesham along with bowling coach Shane Bond. These players are likely to be joined by the rest of the Kiwis who took part in the tournament in a flight. Meanwhile, another flight to travel to the Caribbean via South Africa is being planned for the likes of Quinton de Kock and Marco Jansen of South Africa and Kieron Pollard of Trinidad.
These flights will reportedly leave in the next two days and more players are expected to join in. This won’t be the case for Australian players like Nathan Coulter-Nile and Chris Lynn along with the rest of the Aussies in the IPL. They are now in Ahmedabad awaiting a decision on whether to leave for Sri Lanka or Maldives.
Also Read: IPL 2021: Eight England players reach home; Australians to wait till May 15 in Sri Lanka or Maldives
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Nevin Clinton
(2399 Articles Published)