Australian IPL players could face jail time!
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The Australian government has tightened the rules for those returning to Australia after the rapid increase in Covid-19 cases in India, which has resulted in a ban on all flights from India until May 15 and even on redirected Middle Eastern routes.
Citizens or residents of Australia who have been in India for more than 14 days from the start of their trip would be barred from returning home beginning Monday, and disobedience may result in a five-year prison sentence or hefty fines. The temporary emergency declaration was made on Sunday in response to the Covid-19 crisis in India, which makes returning home for citizens a criminal offense.
This may jeopardize the travel plans of Australian cricketers currently competing in the Indian Premier League (IPL), putting them in jail or forcing them to pay hefty fines until the tournament concludes by the end of May.
Not just the 14 cricketers including the likes of David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis but also the likes of Ricky Ponting, Damien Wright, David Hussey and Brett Lee, who are part of the support staff of their respective sides or commentary panel with the host broadcaster.
Australia's Health Minister Greg Hunt in a statement said, "The government does not make these decisions lightly. However, it is critical the integrity of the Australian public health and quarantine systems is protected and the number of Covid-19 cases in quarantine facilities is reduced to a manageable level."
"Failure to comply with an emergency determination under the Biosecurity Act, 2015 may incur a civil penalty of 300 penalty units, five years' imprisonment or both. The CMO will consider the epidemiology in India and likely impacts on Australia's quarantine capacity, and provide a further expert assessment of the public health risk to Australia to inform a proportionate response,” the statement further said.
However, the ministry will review the restrictions on May 15 again.
