David Warner was “shocked and disappointed” after being dumped as Sunrisers Hyderabad’s captain and axed from the team, the Indian Premier League outfit says.
Key points:
- David Warner has “come to terms with the logic” of his dropping, Hyderabad’s director of cricket Tom Moody said
- The Sunrisers are currently last-placed in the IPL this season, having won the title under Warner in 2016
- Head coach Trevor Bayliss has suggested Warner will not be rushed back, although the team lost its first game without him
Last-placed Hyderabad, whose brains trust is headed by Australians Tom Moody and Trevor Bayliss, recently installed Kane Williamson as skipper in an attempt to reboot their season.
The team, which won its first IPL title under Warner’s captaincy in 2016, doubled down on the snub by dropping Warner for Sunday’s match against Rajasthan.
Favouring Afghan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi ahead of Warner, whose IPL contract is worth approximately $2.3 million, resulted in another loss, while raising eyebrows around the world.
New Zealand great Dan Vettori said Warner’s omission was “staggering”, while fellow pundit Dale Steyn suggested Warner may have played his last game for the franchise.
Head coach Bayliss has already hinted Warner will not be rushed back, flagging a desire to “give some of the guys opportunities and not just disregarding them after one or two games”.
“He’s been good, talking with Kane and some of the other players.”
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Moody admitted Warner was “shocked and disappointed”.
“We’d be disappointed if he wasn’t feeling that way,” Hyderabad’s director of cricket said.
“But he has come to terms with the logic.”
It could be a long month for the opening batsman, who is among the Australians waiting for an update from the federal government as to whether a ban on incoming travellers from India could be extended beyond May 15.
The restriction was introduced because of India’s deadly second wave of COVID-19.
Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson last week fled the IPL and returned home, via Qatar, but any Australian attempting that journey now risks jail time and fines.
The IPL runs until May 31.
Aussies in IPL facing uncertain futures
The group of almost 40 Australians involved in the IPL are now confronted with the prospect of being forced to have a two-week stopover in another nation before flying home.
Some are hopeful that commercial flights will be allowed to resume by the end of the month, while talks between Cricket Australia (CA) and the players’ union regarding a potential charter flight are ongoing.
Instagram: David Warner
)Any charter flight would need to be approved by the federal government.
Complicating matters is Australia’s limited-overs tour of the West Indies in June, with Warner, Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and other stars facing a tight turnaround if there are any delays in their homecoming.
CA and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) have partnered with UNICEF Australia for a fundraising drive in response to India’s health crisis.
CA is making an initial donation of $50,000, the same amount donated by vice-captain Cummins last week.
“It has been distressing and saddening to learn of the suffering of so many of our Indian sisters and brothers,” CA chief executive Nick Hockley said.
AAP/ABC
