SYDNEY (AP) — Pat Cummins and Steve Smith were among the stars of Australia’s Indian Premier League contingent who arrived back in Sydney on Monday, almost two weeks after the lucrative cricket tournament was suspended amid surging COVID-19 infections in the host country.

The IPL was postponed indefinitely on May 4 after players or staff from at least three of the eight franchises returned positive tests for the coronavirus.

The timing left Australian players, coaches and commentators in limbo because the government had temporarily barred incoming travelers from India.

Most of the Australians relocated to the Maldives and waited for the travel ban to be lifted before getting a charter flight home. They will have to spend two weeks in hotel quarantine.

Former test batsman Mike Hussey, who remained in India to isolate after testing positive for COVID-19, was expected to return home later Monday via Qatar.

The New South Wales state government has coordinated a quarantine arrangement for the cricket contingent that does not impact on the capped, overstretched system in place for travelers arriving from abroad.

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The Associated Press