Jonny Bairstow, David Malan and Chris Woakes withdraw from the IPL, citing personal reasons

Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Jonny Bairstow, Punjab Kings batsman Dawid Malan and Delhi Capitals all-rounder Chris Woakes have dropped out of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) for personal reasons.

The England and India players were supposed to fly into UAE from Manchester together in a bubble to bubble transfer but Covid-19 cases in the visitors’ camp forced IPL teams to make their own arrangements.

The fifth Test between India and England was also postponed indefinitely after a junior physio tested positive for the virus ahead of the game. Other members of India’s support staff, including head Ravi Shastri, were already in quarantine after they tested positive for the virus during the fourth Test at the Oval.

All players arriving in Dubai now have to do a six-day quarantine and that could be the reason behind Bairstow and Malan pulling out.

🚨 UPDATE: Dawid Malan will not be travelling to UAE for the remainder of #IPL2021.

He will be taking some time off to be with his family ahead of the #T20WorldCup and Ashes. #SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings pic.twitter.com/3ZUEDVZ2Ui

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) September 11, 2021

A BCCI official told PTI that both the players won’t be part of the IPL resuming September 19. The Guardian reported on Woakes’ unavailability.

“They won’t be boarding the flight to UAE. One of the reasons for their pull out is the six-day quarantine which they didn’t need to do earlier,” said the official.

While Bairstow is a regular in the Sunrisers line-up, world number one T20 batsman Malan made his IPL debut with Kings earlier this year.

A BCCI official told PTI that both the players won’t be part of the IPL resuming September 19. The Guardian reported on Woakes’ unavailability.

“They won’t be boarding the flight to UAE. One of the reasons for their pull out is the six-day quarantine which they didn’t need to do earlier,” said the official.

While Bairstow is a regular in the Sunrisers line-up, world number one T20 batsman Malan made his IPL debut with Kings earlier this year.

All three are also part of England’s Ashes plans but the tour Down Under is also currently in doubt with Australia imposing some of the harshest restrictions in the world on incoming travellers in the COVID times.