Maldives’ travel ban leaves CSK anxious about Hussey’s departure

On Tuesday, the Maldives banned travellers from across the South Asian nations in order to tackle the surge in the new Covid-19 infections despite having run one of the world’s most successful vaccination national drives.

In an official statement, it was informed that the restrictions are applicable to travellers originating from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The indefinite travel ban has a direct repercussion on Australia’s IPL contingent which is still residing in the island country as a temporary post after the BCCI suspended the tournament midway, while Australia had shut its border for travellers from India until 15th May.

The newly imposed ban by the Maldives has left the Chennai Super Kings anxious as the franchise’s batting coach, Michael Hussey, will not be able to travel to join the rest of his compatriots. Hussey, who had tested positive for Covid-19 after the tournament’s suspension, was airlifted to a Chennai facility, where he was recovering in the company of New Zealand’s Tim Seifert.

Set to join his team members in the Maldives until the Australian government uplifts the ban and permits its citizens to enter the country, Hussey was awaiting three negative Covid tests before he could have taken a Maldives ticket. Those plans, however, seem off at the moment. More so after Hussey returned positive after a negative first test.

BCCI looking at possible windows to complete the tournament

Meanwhile, the BCCI has been in search of all possible options to carry out the remainder of the tournament to avoid a potential loss of INR 2500 Crores. With multiple international assignments knocking on the doors of all the nations, it remains unlikely that all the players will be available if at all IPL is successfully rescheduled.

India, on the other hand, is all in readiness to face New Zealand in the high-octane World Test Championship final at Southampton from June 18 onwards. Post that, the team will embark on a five-Test series against England that will run until mid-September, leaving the BCCI with only a small window for conducting the remainder of the IPL, if it is to be done before the T20 World Cup.