Bangalore: Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson are the latest cricketers to join Andrew Tye in who have left the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) amid a spike in coronavirus cases in the country. The duo plays for Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Kane Richardson so far played only game for the Bangalore side while his Australian national teammate Adam Zampa didn’t feature in any of the game. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on their official Twitter handle made the announcement. They wrote, “Official Announcment: Adam Zampa & Kane Richardson are returning to Australia for personal reasons and will be unavailable for the remainder of #IPL2021. Royal Challengers Bangalore management respects their decision and offers them complete support.”
Three other Australian cricketers, Glenn Maxwell, Dan Christian and Daniel Sams will remain at the club, along with the coach Simon Katich.
Earlier, Rajasthan Royals fast bowler Andrew Tye departed to Australia due to personal reasons. "AJ Tye flew back to Australia earlier today due to personal reasons. We will continue to offer any support he may need.#RoyalsFamily," said RR in a tweet on Sunday.
Tye, who had won the Purple Cap in 2018, didn’t played any of the RR games so far and played just one match last season. Apart from Tye, England duo Liam Livingstone and Ben Stokes left RR during the season. Livingstone returned citing bubble fatigue while Stokes sustained a finger injury during RR's first game of the season. Fast bowler Jofra Archer, meanwhile, didn't travel to India with an injury and has been ruled out for the season.
Several Australian cricketers are looking to leave the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to fears that they will be locked of their country following rising Covid-19 cases in India. The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) on Monday reported that many Australian players are 'nervous about securing safe passage back home after the [Scott] Morrison government (Australian government) reduced the number of incoming passengers allowed from India'.
Steve Smith (Delhi Capitals), David Warner (SunRisers Hyderabad), Pat Cummins (Kolkata Knight Riders), Glenn Maxwell (Royal Challengers Bangalore) are among the 17 Aussies taking part in the IPL.
(With agency inputs)