COVID Fear: Ashwin, 2 Aussie Players Quit IPL; Will Others Follow?

Mumbai: The IPL, which is continuing in India despite the raging COVID-19 crisis the country is facing, has started to lose players because of fear of the pandemic.

Team India’s Test star Ravichandran Ashwin, a senior player of Delhi Capitals excused himself and took a “break from this year’s IPL” to support his family during these “tough times”.

He added that he hopes to return if things go in the right direction. But that is a remote possibility as he has to undergo 14-day quarantine if and when he comes back.

Two Australian players – leg-spinner Adam Zampa and pacer Kane Richardson of Royal Challengers Bangalore – followed suit on Monday for “personal reasons”.

“Adam Zampa & Kane Richardson are returning to Australia for personal reasons and will be unavailable for the remainder of IPL season. Royal Challengers Bangalore offers complete support to them in all the possible way we can,” RCB stated.

A day earlier, another Australian pace bowler Andrew Tye told Rajasthan Royals he was leaving for “personal reasons”. So did Englishman Liam Livingstone, also of Rajasthan Royals, citing “bubble fatigue”.

Will more players take the escape route, considering the fact that over 3.5 lakh coronavirus cases were reported in India during the last 24 hours and the number is growing daily?

It won’t be a surprise if that happens.

The Australian media has been reporting for the last couple of days that many players are nervous about securing safe passage back home after the (Australian) government reduced the number of incoming passengers allowed from India.

Also Read: IPL Fact Check: Will Worried Aussie Players Return Home Amid COVID Crisis?