Australian cricketers land in Sydney after fleeing Covid-hit IPL 2021

Australian cricketers landed in Sydney on a charter flight Monday, nearly two weeks after the Indian Premier League tournament they were participating in was suspended amid surging Covid-19 infections.The IPL was postponed indefinitely on May 4 after players and staff members from various franchises tested positive for coronavirus. Tournament organisers urged overseas players to return to their homes as soon as possible. But the Australian contingent faced a major hurdle because their government temporarily barred incoming travellers from India. Most of the Australians relocated to the Maldives and waited for the travel ban to be lifted before getting a charter flight home. Broadcaster ABC reported that players including Steve Smith and David Warner were on board the flight that landed in Sydney about 7.30am local time. A group of 38 players, coaches, officials and TV commentators had reportedly been staying in the Maldives, after leaving India on May 6 aboard a charter flight arranged and paid for by the Indian cricket board.