India star Ashwin withdraws from IPL ‘to support family’ amid growing backlash at cricket during Covid crisis

Indian international cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has pulled back from the Indian Premier League (IPL) to support his family’s fight against Covid-19, in a significant blow to the tournament which is taking place despite growing backlash as the pandemic continues to ravage the country.

Ashwin, 34, who is representing Delhi Capitals (DC) in the tournament, said: “My family and extended family are putting up a fight against #COVID19 and I want to support them during these tough times.”

"I expect to return to play if things go in the right direction. Thank you Delhi Capitals," he added.

The announcement came in a tweet soon after his franchise defeated SunRisers Hyderabad in the Super Over on Sunday.

Two more international cricketers, Australia’s Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson, quit the IPL series to return to their home country.

A statement by their franchisee Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) squad cited "personal reasons" for withdrawing while speculations suggest concerns over the raging pandemic in India.

“Adam Zampa & Kane Richardson are returning to Australia for personal reasons and will be unavailable for the remainder of #IPL2021. Royal Challengers Bangalore management respects their decision and offers them complete support,” RCB said in a tweet.

The richest franchise tournament in the world began on 9 April and will continue till 30 May as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said it will continue regardless of the pandemic.

Ashwin’s decision is a major blow to the league which is continuing behind closed doors and in a bio-bubble. He is the first Indian cricketer to withdraw from the league.

The matches have been in full swing even as 2.8 million people battle the infection across India as of 26 April and 195,123 people have died. The cases have been rising since March, picking up pace as the country records more than 300,000 cases.

Hospitals are turning away patients as the healthcare system suffers a crippling shortage of oxygen, medicines, doctors and beds. Mortuaries and crematoriams are also overrun.

A leading Indian newspaper group suspended coverage of the IPL on Sunday while calling it "commercialism gone crass" and "incongruous" for continuing amid the pandemic.

“India is going through its worst phase of the Covid pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of people are struggling, many in vain, to exercise their right to live, as a ramshackle universal healthcare system proves that it has no answers to the challenges posed by a creepy bug,” the front-page editorial of the New Indian Express of Express Publications read.

It said it will resume reporting on the event until a "semblance of normalcy is restored".

The two Australian players are returning to join fellow cricketer Andrew Tye, who left for Sydney on Sunday. He cited the “stress of bubble life” and concerns about the Australia’s government closing the borders with India.

On Monday, Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins offered to donate $50,000 to the ‘PM Cares Fund’ – specifically for the purchase of oxygen supplies. He asked fellow players and people around the world, who have been “touched by India’s passion and generosity” to contribute.