The IPL 2025 will be back in just a couple of days, but then the overseas players are caught in a dilemma, whether to come back to the tournament or not. After the league was halted from May 8, after the military tensions between India and Pakistan rose, there always going to be an uncertainty if the foreigners will return or not.
Mitchell Johnson Writes for Aussie Players
The Cricket Australia has left the choice to its players and some of them have already decided to come back, while there is confusion over the return of some of of them. Former Aussie pacer Mitchell Johnson, in his column for The West Australian wrote, that if he was in this situation, he would not go back to play the remainder of IPL 205.
He starts by writing, “Cricket might involve mega bucks these days but it is still just a game, and that has been brought sharply into focus after the Indian Premier League’s hiatus this week. Given the rising military tensions between India and Pakistan after their recent conflict, and the heightened risk during the ceasefire – which isn’t a guarantee for safety – it’s understandable that players might be hesitant to return to an environment they fled due to safety concerns.”
Choose Safety Over IPL 2025 Money
Johnson went on to add that there was need to prioritise safety over the big bucks, especially after whatever happened to the players caught in Dharamsala on May 8 — where PBKS took on DC. Alyssa Healy, Mitchell Starc’s wife had described the horror they had to go through amidst all that.
“Hearing accounts of the challenges faced in those regions only underscores the need for caution. It’s reported that players are weighing up the potential risks and the broader implications of their decisions. Ultimately, the choice should be about what feels safest and most right for each individual, rather than just a commitment to a franchise or winning a tournament.
“We Must Not Forget the Bigger Picture”
“…If I had to make a call whether to head back to India and finish the tournament, it would be an easy decision. It’s a no from me. Lives and safety are the most important thing, not pay cheques. It’s a personal decision. No one should be coerced or feel pressured into going back, even if the IPL and Pakistan Super League, which has also been halted, push hard for it. Both tournaments should just end now or consider moving, which then becomes a huge financial issue.”
He only ended by saying that, once the situation eases, these tournaments can go on to bring joy, but one must not forget the ‘bigger picture’. “Hopefully once tensions between the two nations ease, both leagues can thrive again and bring joy to countless cricket lovers. But we must not forget the bigger picture in all this.”
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