CHENNAI: Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) batting and bowling coach Michael Hussey and Laxmipathy Balaji, respectively, who were diagnosed with Covid-19, have been flown into the city from Delhi in an air ambulance, a top franchise official said on Thursday, as Hussey’s Australian mates were flown to Maldives. Hussey and Balaji were among the prominent non-playing staff to test positive when the IPL was “indefinitely suspended” on Tuesday, following multiple Covid-19 cases inside the bio-bubble.
“We decided to bring Hussey and Balaji to Chennai by an air ambulance as we have better contacts here and wanted to ensure better medical facilities in case of any need,” the CSK official told PTI.
He further said the duo were “asymptomatic and doing fine.” The CSK official said Hussey would have to wait for a Covid-negative report to be able to leave the country. “Hussey has to wait and get a Covid-negative report before he can leave India. We will make arrangements for a charter when it is safe for him to fly,” the official added.
While Hussey will have to wait, rest of the Australians participating in the IPL on Thursday left for Maldives to serve out the waiting period before they can board a flight to Australia. Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed that in a statement. “CA and the ACA extend their sincere thanks to the Board of Control for Cricket in India for their responsiveness in moving the
Australians from India to the Maldives less than two days after the decision to indefinitely postpone the Indian Premier League,” CA said.
—PTI

Press Trust of India