Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has reacted to Michael Slater’s “Blood On Your Hands” comment after the former Australian batsman charged the PM for not arranging for the return of Australian players playing in the IPL. The season was suspended midway as a result of COVID positive cases in different camps. The BCCI is now looking at a different window to complete the remainder of the season.
Michael Slater, who was in India on commentary duties in the now-suspended IPL 2021, lashed out at the government for not allowing Australians stuck in India to return home. The Australian government had imposed a travel ban on India last month till May 15. Slater, who reportedly left IPL 2021’s bio-bubble last week, was keen to return home but had to go to the Maldives after leaving India.
Reacting to the former Australian cricketer’s statement, Australian PM Morrison termed it ‘absurd’ and said fining or jailing those who make their way back from India to Australia somehow was highly unlikely. “No, that’s obviously absurd,” PM Morrison told Nine Network, reacting to Slater’s comment.
Also Read: IPL 2021: Michael Slater Leaves The Bubble; Escapes to The Maldives
Australian PM Reacts To Michael Slater’s Comments
“This is about getting more people home safely, preventing the third wave here in Australia. I think the likelihood of any of that (jail term for those not abiding by the travel ban) occurring is pretty much zero,” the Australian Prime Minister added.
Michael Slater came out with a tweet on Monday where he charged the Australian PM of not taking responsibility of the return of their players playing in the IPL. He then left the IPL bubble and went off to the Maldives for a vacation.
“If our Government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home. It’s a disgrace!! Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out quarantine system. I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect,” Slater had written in a tweet on Monday.
If our Government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home. It's a disgrace!! Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out quarantine system. I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect
— Michael Slater (@mj_slats) May 3, 2021
IPL 2021 was suspended indefinitely by BCCI on Tuesday (May 04) after COVID-19 cases emerged in the camps of as many as four teams. On Monday, two Kolkata Knight Riders players – Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier had tested positive followed by three cases in the Chennai Super Kings contingent.
On Tuesday, Wriddhiman Saha and Amit Mishra tested positive as well. The rise in the number of cases from different bio-bubbles and from different cities finally forced the BCCI to suspend the season with immediate effect.
Also Read: BCCI Looking For September Window For Remainder Of IPL 2021
