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Prior to the WTC final, Cricket Australia defers to individual decisions. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is scheduled to begin on May 17, and Cricket Australia (CA) has declared that it will completely back any player's decision to return. The decision was made in light of schedule conflicts for a number of Australian players who are getting ready for the June 11 World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa at Lord's.
"Cricket Australia will support players in their individual decisions whether to return to India or not," the board said in a statement on Tuesday.
The IPL final will now be held on June 3, just eight days before the WTC final. Australia's WTC squad includes several players active in the IPL: Test captain Pat Cummins and batter Travis Head (Sunrisers Hyderabad), along with pacers Mitchell Starc (Delhi Capitals) and Josh Hazlewood (Royal Challengers Bengaluru). While Cummins and Head's side is out of playoff contention, both DC and RCB are still in the race, making their availability a complex issue.
"Team management will work through the preparation implications for the World Test Championship final for those players who choose to play," CA added.
The IPL will resume in Bengaluru, Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad. The venues for the playoffs and final, previously assigned to Kolkata and Hyderabad, are still to be confirmed.
The initial suspension came after a match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was abandoned in Dharamsala, not far from conflict zones where explosions were reported. With airspace closures, a special train was arranged to transport players to Delhi, after which many overseas personnel returned to their home countries.
However, some international players, like South Africa's Kagiso Rabada and West Indies' Sherfane Rutherford, have opted to stay back and resumed training with Gujarat Titans. Among the Australians, only coaching staff like Ricky Ponting and Brad Haddin have remained in India, while others, including Justin Langer and Mike Hussey, left amid the unrest.
Cricket Australia assured it is staying in regular contact with the BCCI and Australian government regarding security protocols and logistical challenges.
Australia now has to strike a balance between the players' obligations in the lucrative IPL and the necessity for red-ball preparation as the WTC final draws near; CA is leaving this decision up to individual discretion.
