Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Jonny Bairstow, Punjab Kings batsman Dawid Malan and Delhi Capitals all-rounder Chris Woakes have reportedly pulled out of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), which is all set to resume on September 19 in the United Arab Emirates.
According to reports, all players arriving in Dubai for the IPL are required to do a six-day quarantine and that could be the reason behind Bairstow and Malan pulling out of the league.
“They won’t be boarding the flight to UAE. One of the reasons for their pull out is the six-day quarantine which they didn’t need to do earlier,” a BCCI official told PTI.
Also Read: IPL players arriving in UAE from UK to undergo hard quarantine
The England and India players were supposed to fly into UAE from Manchester together in a bubble to bubble transfer but COVID-19 cases in Team India’s camp forced IPL teams to make their own arrangements.
Last month, India’s head coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun, fielding coach Ramakrishnan Sridhar and physiotherapist Nitin Pate tested positive for the virus in the UK. Days later, junior physio Yogesh Parmar also tested positive for the coronavirus following which the fifth and final Test between India and England scheduled to begin on September 10 at Manchester’s Old Trafford Stadium was cancelled.
Bairstow, Woakes and Malan were part of England’s Test squad in Manchester. Bubble life has taken a toll on players and with the T20 World Cup to follow in UAE, not playing the IPL would allow more family time to Bairstow, Woakes and Malan. The players are also part of England’s Ashes plans but the tour Down Under is also currently in doubt with Australia imposing some of the harshest restrictions in the world on incoming travellers in the COVID times.