Australian cricketers have landed in Sydney after being stuck in the Maldives due to a federal government travel ban on arrivals from India.
Key points:
- Batting coach Michael Hussey remained in India after testing positive to COVID-19
- Cricket Australia has insisted it did not ask for special treatment
- The group will be doing their 14 days of hotel quarantine in Sydney
The majority of the 38-strong group of Indian Premier League (IPL) players, officials and commentators arrived at Sydney Airport this morning from the Maldives, where they have been staying since May 6.
Former Australian captain Steve Smith, batsman David Warner, bowler Pat Cummins and coach of the Delhi Capitals Ricky Ponting were among the people on the Air Seychelles flight.
The tournament was indefinitely suspended earlier this month due to COVID-19.
The Australian cohort was unable to return home due to the Commonwealth barring any person who had been to India in the past 14 days from entering the country.
Chennai Super Kings batting coach and former Australian Test player Michael Hussey remained in India after testing positive for the virus.
AAP: Joel Carrett
)As of Friday morning, he was awaiting the negative test result which would allow him to link up with compatriots in the Maldives.
However, the 45-year-old faces the prospect of being stranded due to the Maldives government preparing to seal its borders from tourists in India and other South Asian neighbours in response to the surge of coronavirus cases.
Three players — Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, and Andrew Tye — are already quarantining in Australia, having left the tournament before the Australian government’s travel ban.
AFP: Indranil Mukherjee
)Their return home attracted some criticism in light of thousands of Australians in India being unable to procure a seat home amid the deadly outbreak, but Cricket Australia’s interim chief executive Nick Holey has emphasised it has not asked for special treatment.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the players and officials were not given any special dispensation.
“They are happy for them to come in over the cap. That is something we insisted upon and they were to agree with that,” Mr Morrison said.
“They will come back under their own steam, upon their own ticket, and they won’t be taking the spot in quarantine of any other Australian who is returning home under the NSW caps.”
After landing, the group were loaded onto buses to be taken to their 14-day hotel quarantine in Sydney.
