Australia batsman Chris Lynn has asked his country's cricket board to arrange charter flights to bring players home at the end of the Indian Premier League as India battles a surge in Covid-19 infections.
Three Australian cricketers - Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson - have already cut short their IPL season to head home but a number of the country's top players, including Steve Smith, David Warner and Pat Cummins, remain.
Lynn made the request before Australia on Tuesday announced a temporary ban on direct passenger flights from India, as the South Asian nation grapples with a massive surge in coronavirus infections.
However, Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned there would be no special treatment for cricketers. Lynn was speaking before Australia suspended flights from India until at least May 15 on Tuesday.
"They [cricketers] have travelled there privately under those arrangements, this wasn't part of an Australian tour," Morrison said.
"They are under their own resources and they'll be using those resources, I'm sure, to seek to return to Australia in accordance with our own arrangements."
Highlighting the conditions in India, Australia's David Warner posted a picture on Instagram of himself and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson in blue protective suits and masks on a flight to Delhi.
Cricket Australia (CA) contacted Australia's IPL players on Monday inquiring about their health and travel plans.
"I texted back that as Cricket Australia make 10 per cent of every IPL contract was there a chance we could spend that money this year on a charter flight once the tournament is over?" Lynn, who plays for Mumbai Indians, told News Corp media.
"I know there are people worse off than us. But we are going from a really tight bubble and are getting vaccinated next week so hopefully the government will let us get home on a private charter.
"We are not asking for shortcuts and we signed up knowing the risks. But it would be great to get home as soon as the event is over."
CA were unable to provide immediate comment.
The 2021 IPL regular season concludes on May 23, with qualifiers and eliminators to follow before the May 30 final.
The IPL is being played under biosecurity protocols and Lynn said he felt comfortable in the environment and had no immediate plans to leave.
"Obviously India is in chaos at the moment. But we are at least giving people something to smile about by playing the tournament," he added.
India recorded 352,991 new cases of Covid-19 on Monday, placing further strain on an already overwhelmed health system.
Cummins, one of the most expensive foreign imports into the league, said he had felt "helpless" watching events in India and announced he was donating $50,000 to buy oxygen equipment.
"There has been quite a bit of discussion over here as to whether it is appropriate for the IPL to continue while Covid-19 infection rates remain high," the Kolkata Knight Riders bowler said on Twitter.
"I am advised that the Indian government is of the view that playing the IPL while the population is in lockdown provides a few hours of joy and respite each day at an otherwise difficult situation for the country."
Cummins, who is continuing to play in the IPL, urged other "privileged" players to also donate.
New Zealand Cricket Players Association chief executive Heath Mills said none of their players had asked to go home.
"There's no doubt they're certainly anxious about what's happening in India and what they're witnessing. But they feel well looked-after by their IPL franchises and safe in their bubbles," Mills said.
A handful of players, including India star Axar Patel, tested positive for coronavirus before the tournament.
