Cricket Australia breaks silence, gives major update on players unwilling to return to India for IPL

NEW DELHI: As the Indian Premier League (IPL) gears up for its dramatic return on May 17 following a brief suspension, Cricket Australia (CA) has thrown its full support behind players who choose not to head back to India. The tournament, halted due to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, will resume after a ceasefire agreement between the two nations.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Several Australian players and staff had returned home over the weekend, rattled by the geopolitical unrest that brought the IPL to a standstill on May 9. Now, with the league resuming, they're faced with a tough call: return for the final stretch of the IPL or stay focused on national duties.ALSO READ: IPL 2025 new schedule: Check venues, timings in IST, date, complete fixtures and more“Cricket Australia will support players in their individual decisions whether to return to India or not,” CA said in an official statement. “Team management will work through preparation implications for the World Test Championship final for those players who choose to play in the remaining IPL matches.”"We are maintaining communication with the Australian Government and BCCI around security arrangements and safety," the statement further added.The World Test Championship final against South Africa, starting June 11 at Lord’s, looms large, just eight days after the IPL concludes. With fitness and mental readiness in sharp focus, CA is working closely with the BCCI and the Australian Government to assess ongoing security measures.Of the Aussies involved, several—including Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, and Mitchell Starc, are key to Australia’s WTC plans. Hazlewood, currently nursing a shoulder injury, is expected to recover in time. Others like Mitch Marsh and Josh Inglis remain active in the IPL playoff race.Meanwhile, Aussie coaches and commentators, including Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, and Matthew Hayden, are also weighing their return amid logistical challenges.With 13 group matches remaining, including the resumption of a match halted mid-play due to sirens, the IPL's comeback will be watched closely, not just for cricket, but for how players respond to the delicate balance of duty and safety.