Australian cricketers playing in India and Pakistan’s T20 competitions face an uncertain time as the conflict increases between the two countries.
Australian cricket stars are on the verge of flying home, or to Dubai, as the escalating India-Pakistan conflict threatens to postpone theIPL.
Some players based in India could fly back to Australia as soon as Saturday to escape the increasing tension in the country.
It comes after the Ricky Ponting-coached Punjab Kings’ match against Mitchell Starc’s Delhi was abandoned on Thursday night following a power failure in Dharamsala.
The Indian cricket board (BCCI) had already moved the next match in Dharamsala, on Sunday, to Ahmedabad.
Airports in Dharamsala and Chandigarh – where the Kings are based – have been closed for civilian and commercial use since Wednesday, while others across India’s north-western corridor are also out of bounds to the cricketers.
Six Australians – David Warner, Max Bryant, Riley Meredith, Sean Abbott, Mitch Owen and Ben Dwarshuis – are playing in the Pakistan Super League.
But PSL organisers are expected to move the competition, slated to finish on 18 May, to Dubai as soon as Friday.
Friday’s game between Peshawar and Karachi has already been cancelled as teams scramble to leave Pakistan.
Three IPL franchises – Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Rajasthan Royals – are already out of finals contention so that would theoretically make it easier for players to get home.
Pacer Nathan Ellis has been restricted to just one game for the Super Kings, while Pat Cummins, Travis Head, and Adam Zampa play for Hyderabad.
But title-contending teams such as the Kings, and Josh Hazlewood and Tim David’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru would be reluctant to allow key players to go.
“We’re not sure where we’re going at the moment … there’s been some talk about Ahmedabad and some talk about Jaipur,” Kings coach Ponting said during a mid-game interview.
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Even Zampa could think twice about leaving early, after IPL franchises disapproved of his decision to exit the competition in 2021 when Covid-19 cases were soaring across India.
Cricket Australia has been across the situation in India and Pakistan since 26 people were killed and 17 were injured in an attack in the Kashmir region late last month.
“We continue to closely monitor the situation in Pakistan and India, including obtaining regular advice and updates from the Australian government, the PCB, BCCI and local government authorities, and maintaining communication with our players and support staff currently in the region,” a CA spokesperson said.
Despite the volatility of the situation, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia insisted foreign players in the IPL had no concerns about continuing to play.
“They are quite comfortable. Everyone in the league is comfortable,” Saikia said. “The safety and security of every player – be it a local player or a foreigner – every match official and every fan is important for us. We have the clearance of every single authority.”
Earlier, Punjab had cruised ominously to 122-1 in just 10.1 overs when one of the light towers at the picturesque Dharamsala stadium malfunctioned.
The Kings, whose side had featured two of their five Australians – Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis – shared a point with Delhi and remain handily placed in third on the table.