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Girlfriend speaks out after Chris Lynn's 'absurd' IPL request

Chris Lynn, pictured here with girlfriend Karlie Andrews.
Chris Lynn and girlfriend Karlie Andrews. Image: Instagram/Getty

Chris Lynn's girlfriend has spoken out after the Australian cricketer copped backlash for an 'absurd' request amid India's Covid disaster.

Earlier this week, Lynn suggested Cricket Australia should organise a charter flight to bring cricketers home from the virus-ravaged subcontinent.

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The federal government has halted all direct commercial and repatriation flights from India to Australia until May 15, with the measures set to be reviewed closer to that date.

The IPL is scheduled to finish on May 31, so any extension of the travel ban would create substantial headaches for Cricket Australia.

“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 told News Corp this week.

“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.’’

But Lynn's suggestion went down like a lead balloon, with Sydney radio host Jim Wilson describing the request as "absurd".

"With respect, there are bigger priorities right now than those in the IPL," Wilson tweeted, adding that Lynn's comments were "a bit rich".

Girlfriend speaks out amid Chris Lynn controversy

Lynn's girlfriend Karlie Andrews has since spoken out about the situation in India.

“I know the IPL is doing everything they can to keep our players safe in their bubble,” she told Daily Mail Australia.

“And I know all partners would obviously love to have their significant other home safe and well ASAP when the IPL is complete.

“Hopefully (Chris) is home at the end of May. It is not ideal and I miss him heaps but it won’t be forever and so just have to hang in there.”

Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) boss Todd Greenberg has confirmed his organisation and CA are in talks regarding the prospect of a charter flight, which would require government approval plus significant funds.

There is still hope among some players that commercial flights will be viable late next month, and the IPL's biosecurity protocols would help ensure they satisfy any potential new pre-flight requirements introduced by Australia.

However, CA, the ACA and players will be desperate to leave nothing to chance.

Medical workers, pictured here with a Covid patient in New Delhi, India.
Medical workers with a Covid patient in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

The most immediate priority for CA and the ACA is Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson, who followed the lead of compatriot Andrew Tye in cutting their IPL stints short, wanting to return home.

Tye has arrived in Sydney and started his hotel quarantine stint, but there were fears Zampa and Richardson could be stranded in Mumbai, having already left their IPL franchise's biosecurity bubble.

However it's believed that Zampa and Richardson could arrive in Australia as early as Thursday after a long stopover, having shored up plans to exit India before Scott Morrison's border closure on Tuesday.

with AAP

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