Morgan and Co could flee IPL Covid-19 crisis

ENGLAND’S 11 Indian Premier League stars have been told any decision on their continued involvement rests with them.

Despite the second Covid-19 wave that has created a national crisis in India, officials will press on with the tournament.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said: “So far, it is going on as scheduled.”

There are currently no plans for any of the England players – including white-ball skipper Eoin Morgan and vice-captain Jos Buttler – to fly home early.

It is a fast-moving situation, though, and the rising death toll means it is far from guaranteed this year’s IPL will be completed.

India spinner Ravi Ashwin has left the Delhi Capitals to support his family in the crisis.

Three Australians – Kane Richardson, Andrew Tye and Adam Zampa – have already left, with border closures a real threat.

England’s players are in constant communication with the ECB and there are unlikely to be any instructions to return while the bio-secure bubbles in place remain unbreached.

An ECB spokesperson said: “We continue to monitor and work with the players on an individual basis.

“It will be a decision that will be taken by each individual. Our thoughts are with the people of India during these difficult times.”

Just because the bubble remains firm, it does not make the entire

IPL experience a positive one, with an increased level of lockdown and testing taking place in between the matches.

Some of England’s players are enjoying star roles, selected for every game and doing well.

But for those who are not playing and without as much access to training as usual, a month of county cricket suddenly looks far more inviting.

The overwhelming concern, though, is for people outside the bubble in India, where the healthcare systems for the haves and the have-nots are buckling under the pressure.

Australia pace bowler Pat Cummins took to social media to reveal how he would be trying to help with a $50,000 donation to purchase oxygen supplies for Indian hospitals.

A similarly generous act to that of Buttler, who donated 40 new ventilators to the NHS ahead of the second Covid-19 wave in the UK. ENGLAND PLAYERS IN IPL: Eoin Morgan (Kolkata), Jos Buttler (Rajasthan), Chris Jordan (Punjab), Dawid Malan (Punjab), Jason Roy (Hyderabad), Chris Woakes (Delhi), Moeen Ali (Chennai), Sam Billings (Delhi), Sam

Curran (Chennai), Tom Curran (Delhi), Jonny Bairstow

(Hyderabad).