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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been slammed over the India travel ban amid coronavirus fears for cricketers in the Indian Premier League.
Former Australian cricket opener Michael Slater has accused Prime Minister Scott Morrison of having blood on his hands for banning citizens from returning home from India.
His overnight Twitter tirade came after news the Indian Premier League's biosecurity bubble has been breached by multiple COVID-19 cases, including two teammates of Australia's vice-captain Pat Cummins.
Kolkata Knight Riders were slated to face Royal Challengers Bangalore in Ahmedabad on Monday night, but that game has been postponed.
Kolkata's Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier have tested positive for COVID-19, but their teammates have returned negative tests so far.
Cummins and compatriot Ben Cutting are playing for the franchise, while Australian coach David Hussey is part of their support staff.
If the competition shuts down then Cummins and others among a group of almost 40 Australian players, coaches and officials will be stuck in no man's land.
That's because the Morrison government has banned all incoming travellers from India until at least May 15.
Slater, who has been attempting to return home to Australia from cricket commentary duties in India, launched a tirade against the prime minister on Monday night.
"If our government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home. It's a disgrace!!," tweeted Slater, who has reportedly made it to the Maldives, where he will wait to come home.
"Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this."
"And those who think this is a money exercise. Well forget it," he tweeted a few hours later.
"This is what I do for a living and I have not made a penny having left early. So please stop the abuse and think of the thousands dying in India each day. It's called empathy. If only our government had some!"
Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson last week fled the IPL, returning home via Qatar, but any Australian attempting that journey now risks jail time and fines.
Some Australian players remain hopeful that commercial flights will resume by the end of the month, while others are bracing for contingency plans that involve a two-week stopover in another nation.
Cummins, who last week donated $50,000 to help India combat its health crisis, is playing a central role in logistical discussions between stressed Australian cricketers, CA and the ACA.
A potential charter flight, which would need to be approved by federal government, has formed part of those talks.
However, CA chief executive Nick Hockley insisted on Monday "there's no suggestion at the moment of any charter flight".
Complicating matters is Australia's limited-overs tour of the West Indies in June, with Cummins and other stars facing a tight turnaround if their homecoming is delayed.
