IPL 2021 news: Will Australian cricketers take part in IPL 2021 Phase 2 in the UAE?

Australian cricketers in IPL 2021: Australia’s IPL 2021 contingent has reached back home after almost four weeks today.

Cricket Australia’s recently elected Chief Executive Officer Nick Hockley has welcomed Australian government’s decision of vaccinating people who have to travel out of the country for work. The development means that Australian cricketers will be eligible for getting inoculated before their tour of West Indies.

“We really welcomed the government announcements that people with exemptions to leave Australia for work will be eligible for the vaccine. Now once the players are out of quarantine we will be working to offer them vaccinations before heading off to the West Indies,” Hockley was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Australia’s tour of West Indies 2021, Australia’s first to the Caribbean since 2016, will see them playing five T20Is and three ODIs in July. On their last trip to West Indies, Australia had played a Tri-Nation series including South Africa.

Will Australian cricketers take part in IPL 2021 Phase 2 in the UAE?

Hockley, who has been appointed as a full-time CEO on the same day when Australia’s IPL contingent has returned back to their homes after spending close to four weeks in quarantine in Maldives and Australia, mentioned that the players are “quite shaken” by their recent experience.

“They are clearly quite shaken by the experience, and are very appreciative to be back home, very much looking forward to being reunited with family and friends today.

“I would reiterate that the BCCI have been absolutely fantastic in supporting the playing group, and the entire group in terms of getting home safely and we’re very grateful for that,” Hockley said.

It was as recent as yesterday that there was a report of Australia Test vice-captain Pat Cummins opting to skip the second phase of Indian Premier League 2021.

Scheduled to be played in the UAE in September-October, IPL 2021 won’t clash with Australia’s international fixtures but will require Australian cricketers to live and play in one more bio-bubble before the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 also to be played in the UAE. Being asked about Australian cricketers’ participation in the cash-rich league, Hockley said that the same is yet to be discussed with the players.

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“Once we get back together as a group that [the IPL] is something we’ll obviously need to discuss. Our players returning from the IPL have only today come out of quarantine, so our first priority is to make sure they are reunited with their families…we [then] have a tour to prepare for in the West Indies,” Hockley added.