Australian speedster Pat Cummins who will be repping the KKR jersey in this IPL said he is not worried about Covid-19 seeing all the hard work being put for their safety. Cummins is touring England with Australia for a white ball series which commenced on 4th September with England winning the first T20I. The series will finish on 16th September after which the English and Australian players participating in the IPL will travel to the UAE on the 17th.
The first T20I was a narrow victory for England. The next match will be played on Sunday at the same ground in Southampton. The Australian team is placed at the number one spot in T20s in the ICC world rankings. However, it was their first international match after the pandemic-triggered lockdown which may be a reason for their rusty approach. England have been playing since July and this is their third series after the break.
Pat Cummins (Image Credit: Getty Images)
Pat Cummins says they need to have a game plan to manage to stay away from family for long
The Australian players were not allowed to take their families to the England tour because of the pandemic. Some players will also be participating in the IPL post the bilateral series, which would leave them 80 days away from their families. It is gonna be a mental challenge for the players says Pat Cummins, who said they need to have a game plan to manage themselves.
“In terms of the mental challenge over here, for sure, it is a long tour and when you add the IPL, you probably go on, especially without seeing your families. The important thing is you have to be prepared and come up with a game plan to manage yourself,” said Cummins in a virtual press conference on Saturday.
Photo Credit: Getty Images.
Pat Cummins Not Worried About Safety in IPL
Team Australia vice-captain Pat Cummins is not worried about the safety in IPL, on hearing the extents to which the organizers have gone for the protection of the people involved. He also said those in England have also done the very best to keep them protected from the Coronavirus.
“In terms of safety, I have got no worries at all, hearing about the length that they have gone to protect the tournament, the players, staff, it is huge. Here in England too, no stones have been left unturned, we feel really safe and I am sure that it is going to be the same in the UAE as well from whatever I have heard. I know it is going to be a bit different to what an IPL normally feels like, but I hope the cricket is the same,” added the Kolkata Knight Riders pacer.
Pat Cummins. Image Credit: BCCI/IPL
The 13th edition of IPL was originally scheduled to kick off from March 29 was postponed indefinitely after April 15 due to the rising number of coronavirus cases in the nation. The postponing of the World Cup to 2021 gave the IPL a window to be conducted in September. The IPL 2020 will begin from September 19 till November 10, a total 53-day campaign will see all the 8 teams play in UAE. The venue this time is UAE and matches will be played in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.
