New Delhi: Most foreign recruits in the IPL franchise were suspended for a week due to tensions on the India-Pakistan border after suspending the high-profile T20 league on Saturday.
With the game paused, players and support staff from various franchises have begun to return to their home towns, while several foreign players are family.
“Our players and extension staff have returned to Bengaluru safely and are now living in their respective cities and countries,” the RCB said in a statement.
RCB’s foreign contingents include Tim David, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Philip Salt, Josh Hazlewood, Lungi Ngidi and Nuwan Thushara.
Overseas support staff include head coach Andy Flower, bowling coach Adam Griffith, director of cricket Mo Bobat, Team Evan Speeckly and analyst Freddie Wilde.
“We are very grateful to BCCI, local authorities and the rapid coordination and support that made this possible,” the RCB statement added.
An LSG official also confirmed to PTI that some of their overseas players flew out on Saturday, while others chose to stay for the time being.
For other franchises, such as Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), domestic and international players set out for their respective locations.
According to sources, KKR players left from Hyderabad and they plan to face Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday.
Players from the Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals were evacuated on Friday and accompanied to Jalandhar train station and approved New Delhi in close security through Hoshiarpur.
The squads have arrived in New Delhi, which is a special “Van der Bharat Express”.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) sources said most of their foreign players left their homes.
Meanwhile, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said that after a comprehensive assessment of the situation after consultations with relevant authorities and stakeholders, updates on the revised timetable and the remaining time venues will be shared in due course.
The IPL’s moratorium comes after India’s missile attacks, targeting the Pakistani border and the terrorist infrastructure of Jamu and Kashmir, occupied by Pakistan.
The strike was conducted against the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack, which claimed 26 lives.
