Australian IPL contingent to leave India

CRICKET

ADELAIDE: Australia’s IPL contingent will be evacuated en masse from India to either the Maldives or Sri Lanka, as they wait for the lifting of a travel ban to return home.

Some 38 Australians are in isolation in India after the IPL was suspended amid India’s worsening coronavirus crisis.

The Australians cannot return home until at least May 15 because the Government has banned any Australian in India from returning until that date.

Cricket Australia’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley expects the Australians to leave India in two or three days, for either the Maldives or Sri Lanka.

They will then return home on a charter flight organised by Indian cricket’s governing body.

‘‘The absolute priority is to get them home safe and well,’’ Hockley told media in Sydney.

‘‘We are not seeking any kind of special exemptions whatsoever.’’

Michael Hussey, the batting coach for the Chennai Super Kings, is the only Australian among the 38 to have tested positive to Covid19.

He is awaiting results from a second test. — AAP