England players lead IPL exodus, NZ cricketers isolate

NEW DELHI: The Indian Premier League's (IPL) foreign players began to disperse on Wednesday, many with a sense of anxiety as they seek a safe passage out of the pandemic-ravaged country.

Hours after the lucrative cricket league was suspended on Tuesday due to the COVID-19 crisis, the English members of Delhi Capitals squad rushed to Delhi from Ahmedabad to prepare for their return home.

"They are likely to be joined by fellow England cricketers from some other franchises for a flight to London," an IPL official said requesting anonymity.

Delhi have three Englishmen - Chris Woakes, Tom Curran and Sam Billings - in their ranks.

Rajasthan Royals wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler is likely to join that flight after a team spokeswoman said nearly all of their foreign players have left the squad.

She did not share details though.

IPL chairman Brijesh Patel and chief executives of three franchises that Reuters contacted were not immediately available to elaborate.

Britain added India to its travel "red-list" last month, which means the English contingent will have to quarantine for 10 days in a hotel.

Four IPL teams have now confirmed COVID-19 cases, the latest being Chennai Super Kings' Australian batting coach Mike Hussey.

MOUNTING TOLL

India's coronavirus deaths rose by a record 3,780 during the last 24 hours, a day after it became the second country to cross the grim milestone of 20 million infections after the United states.

While the Indian cricket board (BCCI) has promised safe passage for the players and officials, New Zealand Cricket said all of their players were isolating in team hotels in India.

An NZC spokesman said captain Kane Williamson and several of his team mates had already been booked to join rest of the test side in England next month.

"We haven't got the finer details of that sorted yet. We're working now with the ECB (English cricket board) and BCCI to arrange flights to get them over to England," the spokesman said.

New Zealand players' union boss Heath Mills said the cricketers were "pretty anxious now and pretty keen to come home".

"Like all New Zealanders in India, they're trying to work through how that happens with very few flights," Mills told local media there.

"They are working with their IPL franchises and some franchises have been good at assisting and others haven't," Mills added.

Media reported several members of the league's Australian contingent were planning to head to Maldives after their government banned all arrivals from India until at least May 15.

Australia pace bowler Pat Cummins said the ban had added "anxiety" for nearly 40 Australians, including 14 players, stranded in India.

"It added a bit of anxiety for a few of the Aussies over here," Cummins told Australian broadcaster Fox Sports from Ahmedabad where his Kolkata Knight Riders team are isolating after two players tested positive for COVID-19.

"But we signed up to play the tournament until the start of June. "Hopefully it all re-opens on May 15 and we'll be able to get back."