Following the abrupt halt of IPL 2021 a month ago, Australian players -- including coaches and commentators -- were finally reunited with their families almost a month later after they exited the hotel quarantine on Monday after arrival from Covid-hit India.
While the players reunited with their families after a long wait, a video of Pat Cummins meeting his pregnant wife made waves online.
In the video, an emotional Cummins could be seen embracing his partner Becky tightly. Apart from Cummins, Steve Smith and David Warner were among others to have completed a quarantine in Sydney.
Pacer Jason Behrendorff also expressed his happiness on being finally back home after a long and patient journey which saw the contingent travel to Maldives after IPL postponement and wait for thier return to homeland due to strict COVID-19 ban enforced by the Aussie government over rising cases in India.
"It was nice to know that we were getting home, that's for sure," pace bowler Jason Behrendorff, who represented Chennai Super Kings, was quoted as saying by Fox Sports.
"It's always tough being stuck somewhere, and knowing that we're able to get home was a relief, and now we're out of quarantine, I can't wait to get home and see my family," he added.
The Aussie players had spent two weeks quarantining in Maldives and a further week in Sydney after the Australian government had banned direct flights from India into Australia till May 15. The IPL 2021 was suspended on May 4.
"There were hugs and tears as dozens of Australian cricketers, coaches and commentators finally exited hotel quarantine in Sydney on Monday morning," said a report in Fox Sports.
Many of the players are part of 23-man white ball Aussie squad which will travel to the West Indies next month for two limited-overs series that begin on July 9 in St Lucia.
The squad includes Behrendorff, Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Jhye Richardson.
Bowlers Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa, who are also part of the 23-man squad, had reached Australia before the flights from India were stopped and the tournament suspended.
Aussies are also likely to play a limited-overs series in Bangladesh after the tour of the West Indies.
(WIth inputs from IANS).
