England's 11 IPL cricketers are hoping for a swift and safe return home after tournament was postponed indefinitely due to the country's ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Australia has bolted the door to citizens trying to return home from India until at least May 15, leaving some 40 Australians at the tournament stranded.
The UK lets its people come home, albeit to a mandatory 10-day quarantine in a government-approved hotel due to India's status as a 'red list' country.
The lucrative Twenty20 competition has been taking place against the grim backdrop of a public health emergency, with India's daily infection rates recently topping 400,000 and mass oxygen shortages being reported.
It was finally suspended on Tuesday with just half of its 60 scheduled matches completed.
Indian cricket officials say they'll now work to secure safe passage home for all IPL participants.
But star batsman Stephen Smith and other Australians cannot return to Australia before May 15 at the earliest.
Any Australian attempting that journey now risks jail time and fines.
Cricket Australia and the players union, the Australian Cricketers' Association, say they won't seek exemptions from the government ban.
Meanwhile, the English contingent, headed up by limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan will be focusing on securing their flights home.
The PA news agency understands there are no plans to commission a charter flight for the group, which is split between host venues in Ahmedabad and Delhi.
Australian Associated Press
