Aussies will still pocket IPL cash

INSURANCE policies taken out by Indian Premier League teams should ensure Australia’s players pick up their close to $18 million in payments despite the fact many are set to be unavailable if the postponed tournament resumes later this year.

The battle to get the 30 players and coaches back home from the Maldives, where they fled when the IPL was cancelled amid a COVID-19 crisis in India, is ongoing. Australian officials are in constant contact with their Indian counterparts.

Australia’s borders are set to reopen after May 15 to people who have been in India, so commercial flights are an option, as are charter flights organised by the IPL franchises.

They are all set to come straight home after tournament officials said there was little chance of a resumption of the IPL any time soon, and definitely not in India.

The United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka and even England have been touted as locations to resume the T20 competition, although there seems to be only one window, a six-week period before this year’s T20 World Cup, for it to happen.

England officials have said they will demand players prioritise playing for their country above the IPL if needed, and it’s likely Australia’s players will be given the same edict because bilateral cricket is soon to fill up the schedule.

Cricket Australia grants “No Objection” certificates for players to feature in the IPL because it is usually on during a period of player leave. But the likes of Pat Cummins, pictured, David Warner and co will be required for national duties in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, then the Ashes.