After Delhi Capitals’ Ravi Ashwin and Rajasthan Royals’ Andrew Tye, Australian cricketers Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson, who represent RCB, have decided to cut short their Indian Premier League (IPL) stint due to the rising COVID-19 cases in India.
On Monday, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) announced the departure of Zampa and Richardson, saying that the duo will be leaving the bio-bubble to return home. RCB in their statement said that the duo is returning to Australia “for personal reasons and will be unavailable for the remainder of the season.”
Official Announcment:
Adam Zampa & Kane Richardson are returning to Australia for personal reasons and will be unavailable for the remainder of #IPL2021. Royal Challengers Bangalore management respects their decision and offers them complete support.#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers pic.twitter.com/NfzIOW5Pwl
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 26, 2021
Meanwhile, spin wizard Ravichandran Ashwin has also withdrawn his name from the 14th edition of the cash-rich league to be with his family in the fight against COVID-19.Ashwin, who was part of Delhi’s playing XI against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Sunday’s doubleheader, announced his decision via Twitter.
Ashwin, however, did not rule out returning to the league in the later stage. According to the IPL guidelines, Ashwin will have to undergo a period of quarantine before joining his team in the bio-bubble.
Rajasthan Royals’ English recruit Liam Livingstone was the first name to withdraw from IPL in midseason. Livingstone had claimed bio-bubble fatigue for his departure. He flew back home last Monday and his franchise announced the same on Tuesday. Another player, Andrew Tye has also decided to fly back to Australia, leaving IPL 2021.
And if a report published in the Sydney Morning Herald is to be believed then, most of the Australian cricketers are looking to fly due to the fears that they will be locked of their country after the Scott Morrison-led government decided to cut incoming flights from India.
“Several sources close to the situation said on Sunday that multiple Australian players in India were seeking to leave the tournament early amid India’s skyrocketing coronavirus cases and recent travel restrictions imposed on people returning to Australia from India,” said the report
