Pressure was increasing on England to bring their Indian Premier League players home on Monday night as fears grew over the future of cricket’s most lucrative competition.
The IPL is carrying on amid the backdrop of India’s Covid emergency, with daily infections topping 350,000 and reports of oxygen shortages and hospitals unable to cope.
More questions were raised about the viability of a tournament that is due to continue until May 30 when three Australian players – Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson – pulled out over the weekend.
One of India’s most high-profile players in Ravichandran Ashwin also stood down from his role with Delhi Capitals, citing the need to help his extended family through the crisis.