Chris Lynn Urges Cricket Australia For Charter Plane For Players After Conclusion Of IPL
Chris Lynn requested Cricket Australia to arrange a charter flight so that the Australia-bound players can fly home safely after the end of the tournament.
Mumbai Indians opener Batsman Chris Lynn has urged Australia’s cricket board to arrange a charter flight to bring players home at the end of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc here.
Cricket Australia (CA) contacted the Australian players in India, inquiring about their health and travel plans after the IPL 2021 ends on May 30. Lynn, who is playing in his 2nd season for MI, said he responded by requesting the Australian cricket board to help arrange a flight for the players.
Lynn also said that Cricket Australia makes 10% of every IPL contract, and they could spend the money to ferry the Aussie players safely back to the land of the kangaroos. Adding that he understands that there are a lot of people who are worse off than the cricketers themselves, Lynn opined that the cricketers will be going from an extremely tight bubble.
The Australian government, however announced on Tuesday that it will be suspending flights from India till May 15. Australia will also unveil measures including sending medical supplies to help India fight the Covid-19 wave.
“I texted back that as Cricket Australia make 10per cent of every IPL contract was there a chance we could spend that money this year on a charter flight once the tournament is over?
“I know there are people worse off than us. But we are going from a really tight bubble and are getting vaccinated next week so hopefully the government will let us get home on a private charter.
“We are not asking for shortcuts and we signed up knowing the risks. But it would be great to get home as soon as the event is over,” Lynn told News Corp media.
We Are Giving People Something To Smile: Chris Lynn
The IPL is being played under biosecurity protocols, and Lynn said he had no immediate plans to leave. Mumbai Indians will play their next 4 games in Delhi which is one of the worst-hit cities in India.
“I feel comfortable in this environment. We made the decision to come here and we know the risk. Obviously India is in chaos at the moment. But we are at least giving people something to smile about by playing the tournament,” he added.
Notably, three Australian players — Andrew Tye, Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa — have withdrawn from the league amid the escalating health crisis due to the pandemic’s second wave in the country.
Delhi Capitals spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also took the call to take a break from the IPL 2021 after playing in Sunday’s game against Sunrisers Hyderabad as he wants to help his family and extended family fight against the coronavirus. RR’s Liam Livingstone has already gone back to England citing bubble fatigue.
