Grateful to BCCI for ensuring safe return of Australia players home after IPL 2021 suspension, says CA chief Nick Hockley

Cricket Australia interim chief Nick Hockley on Monday expressed delight over the arrival of as many as 40 cricketers in Sydney following the suspension of Indian Premier League 2021. Hockley said the CA is grateful to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for ensuring the players, support staff and the commentators reached home safely.

The Australian contingent, which took part in IPL 2021, arrived in Sydney on Monday from the Maldives. The players, support staff and commentators were shifted out of India to the Maldives via chartered planes. The decision to move the cricketers out of India was taken after the Australian



government banned the return of Australian citizens from India until May 15 due to Covid-19 second wave in India.

Former Australia batsman and Chennai Super Kings batting coach Michael Hussey, according to reports, was also expected to reach Sydney on Monday. He had tested positive for Covid-19 during IPL 2021 and was receiving treatment at a private hospital in Chennai.

IPL 2021 was suspended on May 4 due to positive Covid-19 cases in bio-bubble across multiple franchises in Delhi and Ahmedabad. The BCCI confirmed that the 14th edition was indefinitely suspended after 29 matches were played in the tournament.