The Australian contingent, who was a part of the now postponed Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, have now landed back in Sydney on a charter flight on Monday morning, more than a week after leaving Covid-hit India for the Maldives.
A group of 38 players, coaches, officials and TV commentators had been staying in the Maldives, after leaving India on May 6. The entire contingent had boarded a charter flight from Maldives and the expenses were paid by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Earlier on Saturday, the Australian government had lifted a temporary ban that had prohibited the entry of people from India.
Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison had later said on Sunday the cricketers had not been given any special treatment, and would be coming back “under their own steam, on their own ticket”.
The Australian contingent will now serve a 14-day quarantine in a Sydney hotel.
Significantly, the 14th season of the cash-rich league was postponed indefinitely on May 4 as several players and support staffs had returned positive for Covid-19.
Meanwhile, former Test batsman Mike Hussey, who remained in India to isolate after testing positive for COVID-19, was expected to return home later Monday via Qatar boarding a commercial flight.