Cricket Australia today reaffirmed their declaration that they have got an Aussie charter flight organised for Aussie cricketers. This latest decision is made amidst rising tensions in the region. The announcement follows up a deteriorating situation over the safety of players competing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Cricket Australia (CA) CEO Todd Greenberg said the safety of players and staff must come first. He promised that the organization would put their safety and wellbeing before anything else.
Many Australian players are already back home or on their way. This involves prominent athletes such as David Warner and Pat Cummins. Cricket Australia has engaged with all players and kept an open dialogue about their safety and well-being throughout this period.
Assistance from Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia, working hand-in-hand with the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA), has done a terrific job of supporting players through this difficult period. Thousands of Australians directly in coaching staff and sports media covering the competition are directly affected by these changes.
“CA and the ACA are assisting, as you would expect, and have been in contact with all players,” – Cole Hitchcock, Media Advisor.
While many players expressed a desire to exit Pakistan due to rising concerns, they grappled with uncertainties about their future opportunities if they left the league prematurely. It’s an especially dire situation considering the scheduled World Test Championship final to be held in England next month. Following that, the team will travel to the West Indies to tour against them.
Players Currently in Pakistan
Among them are a handful of Australian cricketers, who are in Pakistan at the moment. Others include Matt Short, Ben Dwarshuis, Riley Meredith, Ben McDermott, Ashton Turner, Mitchell Owen, Max Bryant and Sean Abbott. In accordance with 2020 Summer Games protocols, Cricket Australia has arranged a charter flight from Pakistan to Dubai for these athletes.
The civilian use of airports in Dharamsala and Chandigarh has been shut down since Wednesday. This closure makes travel logistics for the players more complicated and introduces immediate safety concerns.
Future Implications
The suspension of the PSL will likely afford Test players some unanticipated time to spend at home. This hiatus comes right before the inaugural World Test Championship final. The bigger issue is what happens, or rather doesn’t happen, with their participation in overseas franchises.
“Players are not managed by Cricket Australia when competing in overseas franchises, and therefore the travel arrangements are their own,” – Cole Hitchcock emphasized.
Todd Greenberg reaffirmed Cricket Australia’s commitment to player safety, stating, “The safety and welfare of our players and staff is always a core priority and we support today’s decision by the BCCI.”
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