Travis Head, the Australian star batter for SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), will miss his team’s Indian Premier League (IPL) clash against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday, according to head coach Daniel Vettori. Speaking during a press conference on the eve of the match, Vettori revealed that Head had recently contracted COVID-19 and, as a result, would not be able to travel to India in time for the game.
“He had Covid-19, and unfortunately, he couldn’t travel,” Vettori told reporters. “We’re hopeful of having him back for the next game once he’s fully recovered and cleared to join the squad,” he added. The news comes as a blow to SRH, who are already out of contention for the playoffs.
The IPL was suspended last week due to India’s cross-border tensions with Pakistan, casting uncertainty over the remainder of the tournament. However, on Monday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that the league would resume on Saturday in Bengaluru. The development has ensured that the tournament will continue, albeit with some changes to the schedule.
In other news, SRH captain Pat Cummins and Travis Head were named in Australia’s squad for the World Test Championship final against South Africa, commencing on June 11. This raised doubts over their involvement with SRH, given that Hyderabad has already been ruled out of the race for the playoffs. According to NDTV Sports, citing ESPNcricinfo, Cummins and Head have informed SRH of their decision to fly back to India.
Cummins’ manager, Neil Maxwell, confirmed that the Australian Test skipper is looking to return to India. “Pat has a responsibility as captain of the franchise and is looking at returning,” Maxwell told News Corp on Tuesday, as quoted by NDTV Sports from ESPNcricinfo.
Cricket Australia’s head of national teams, Ben Oliver, has assured that the board will work towards accommodating players’ individual decisions to return to India or not over the next two days. SRH, who are already out of the playoffs race, will conclude their campaign with three away fixtures against LSG (May 19) in Lucknow, against RCB (May 23) in Bengaluru, and against KKR in Delhi (May 25).
The development highlights the challenges faced by teams and players in the IPL, particularly with regard to international commitments and COVID-19 protocols. As reported by NDTV Sports, SRH will have to cope without Travis Head for their upcoming match, but they will be hopeful of having him back for future games once he has fully recovered.
This news comes as a significant development in the IPL, with several teams vying for a spot in the playoffs. As per NDTV Sports, the BCCI has confirmed that the league will resume on Saturday, and fans will be eager to see how the remaining matches play out.
According to sources, Cricket Australia will continue to monitor the situation and work with players to ensure their safe return to India. As NDTV Sports reports, the board will make efforts to accommodate players’ individual decisions regarding their participation in the IPL.
