These escalating tensions between India and Pakistan have left a tricky situation for a number of Australian cricketers. They now have to balance their responsibilities in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with their ever-present international obligations. At the moment, players Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Ashton Turner, Mitch Owen, Max Bryant and Riley Meredith are still in Pakistan. At the same time, David Warner has exited the area. Some members of the Australian coaching staff have decided to remain in Australia during the wait for a resolution.
Australian players Pat Cummins, Travis Head, and Nathan Ellis are in the IPL at the moment. Especially since they’re playing for the lower-ranked teams, this makes for a really interesting dynamic to the tournament. Reports name any number of these Australian players, having already departed India, as well as long delays as they have to face multi-leg flights home. Ever so professional, Mitchell Starc decided he’d rather return home than keep playing through the IPL’s suspension. On the flip side, names such as Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Mitch Marsh and Xavier Bartlett remain active in squads still contesting the tournament’s finals.
So the IPL window will close by then, on May 25. This comes only days before Australia begins their own preparations for the inaugural World Test Championship final against South Africa, starting on June 11. The urgency to get players back is understandable as situations continue to change.
Conceiving unity dished Adding to the Siddhant and divisive was a controversial T20 game at huge religious in Dharamsala, close to the Pakistan line. With the match subjected to significant disruption almost immediately from air-raid sirens, it was abandoned only ten overs into the game. The crowd was not evacuated due to safety concerns. Not surprisingly, this decision left players with doubts as to whether they should even proceed with the match under such dangerous circumstances.
Sir Ricky Ponting’s engagement has already raised eyebrows as he showed his willingness to go in the trenches for his brothers in the playing shirt. After the announcement of the ceasefire, he had to deplane almost as quickly as he boarded his flight out of India. He decided to remain and cheer the Punjab Kings’ players on.
“Ponting deboarded the flight home after the ceasefire announcement and gave a pep talk to players ensuring they all don’t take a flight back home from Delhi on Saturday night.” – Bharat Sharma
It was a message that struck a chord with players still reeling in shock at recent events. Bharat Sharma noted that “All PBKS foreign players barring Marco Jansen never left India,” emphasizing the solidarity among those who chose to remain.
Meanwhile, many players have expressed their concerns about the ongoing situation and questioned the wisdom of hosting matches so close to the conflict zone. The mood had turned really sour as players looked for some sort of assurance and answers around their health and safety and long-term league promises.
Australian cricketers are currently in the midst of making decisions and plotting their courses. As if that weren’t challenging enough, geopolitical tensions are causing waves that are being felt across the international sporting landscape. The line between professional duty and personal security continues to be a fraught one for these competitors.
