With the spotlight firmly on Chennai Super Kings due to multiple positive Covid cases and confusion over seasoned activist Suresh Raina’s sudden decision to fly home from the United Arab Emirates citing ‘personal reasons’, the new recruit from the franchise, Australia’s fast bowler Josh Hazlewood admitted to being ‘concerned’ before joining the team for the 2020 IPL.
“Obviously there is a bit of concern there,” Hazlewood said. “Ideally it would have been great if there had been no cases. They (those affected) are now in quarantine and I think that will end in the next few days ”.
READ ALSO: Suresh Raina will realize how much money he is going to lose: CSK owner N Srinivasan on left-hander misses IPL 2020
The right-arm closer who will play his first season in the IPL said he will consult Cricket Australia before departing for the United Arab Emirates.
“Hard to say, to be honest, things change pretty fast. We will wait until things start to get clearer as we get closer to the start of the IPL. We will get in touch with Cricket Australia, we will chat and then we will see, ”said Hazlewood, who is currently in England with the Australian limited overs team that will play three T20Is starting on September 4 followed by three ODIs.
The three-time IPL winners and last year’s runners-up CSK have been forced to delay their training session in Dubai after several members, including two cricketers, tested positive for Covid-19. The positive results also raised questions about CSK’s five-day camp in Chennai before leaving for Dubai.
ALSO READ: I woke up at 3 am, wanted to wake up Virat bhai: Kuldeep Yadav talks about nervousness before the test debut
However, the 29-year-old Australian running back was very supportive of the franchise and said CSK members have been in constant contact with him and the other players.
“Yes, we have a WhatsApp group with the franchise (CSK), the discussions are taking place there, I am quite informed about what is happening,” he said.
In addition to Hazlewood, 12 other members of the 29-member team from Australia currently in England will participate in the 13th IPL, which kicks off on September 19.
Captain Aaron Finch, Josh Phillipe and Kane Richardson (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Pat Cummins (Kolkata Knight Riders), David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Steven Smith (Royals), Glenn Maxwell (Kings XI Punjab), Mitchell Marsh (Sunrisers), Alex Carey Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Sams (Delhi Capitals) and Andrew Tye (Chennai Super Kings) are expected to fly direct to the United Arab Emirates after their ODI series in England ends three days before the tournament starts.
When asked about the mood in the Australian countryside regarding the IPL, Hazlewood said detailed discussions will take place closer to his departure. “Obviously IPL is next (after the tour of England) and then we go back to Australia and we’ll see. All of our people on this tour who will be playing IPL right now will think more about that once the tournament gets closer, ”said Hazlewood, who was chosen by the franchise for his base price of INR 2 crore.
The right arm was confident in CSK’s chances this year despite being hit by Cvid-19 before the start of the tournament.
“As far as possibilities are concerned, CSK is always a very consistent team. They are always in the semifinals, right? They are always contenders for the final. It will be my first season there, I suppose there will be no difference this year, there is a good chance that they will be in the final or there and there also this year. They are always a strong team, they always want to win it, a great franchise ”, he added.
Hazlewood along with players from Australia and England on an IPL contract are expected to be available from the first IPL match. The owners of RCB and Rajasthan Royals had confirmed that they did not need to be quarantined for a week as they would be coming from a biosecure environment in England.
.
