The Australians at the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) will have to spend time in Sri Lanka or the Maldives before returning home after the tournament has been suspended.

Australia closed its borders to travellers from India until May 15, following an increase in Covid-19 cases.

The Indian Cricket Council is committed to taking all 38 Australians home on a charter flight. Chennai Super Kings hit coach Mike Hussey since then has been positive. Hussey will remain in quarantine for 10 days in India when the group leaves in the next two or three days.

The BCCI unanimously decided to postpone the tournament after a meeting on Tuesday. Two players from Kolkata Knight Riders and one from Sunrisers Hyderabad tested positive on Tuesday.

Former Test batsman Hussey is the only Australian to have tested positive for the virus so far.

“His symptoms are relatively mild,” said Australian Cricketers’ Association boss Todd Greenberg.

“He has good support systems around him and he is in pretty good spirits.”

The Australian government has said it will fine or jail any individual returning home from India while the travel ban is in place.