Scott Morrison has hit back at Michael Slater after the Australian cricket great and commentator unloaded on the Prime Minister following the Australian Government's decision to block citizens from returning home from India.
Having served as a commentator for the Indian Premier League, Slater escaped from the country earlier thisweek as the country's coronavirus situation worsened.
There were nearly 400,000 new cases registered across India on Sunday in the world's fastest-growing outbreak.
According to The Australian, the former test opening batter found his way to the Maldives, where he will wait until he can legally return home.
On Saturday, Morrison's Government introduced fines of up to $66,600 or five years in prison for anyone defying the travel ban preventing Australians returning home from India. The temporary measure is designed to allow for hotel quarantine upgrades in Australia before an influx of citizens fleeing Covid-19-ravaged India.
Former Australian cricketer and current commentator Michael Slater has slammed Scott Morrison for imposing penalties for those who defy travel ban from India. Photo / Getty Images
Slater tweeted on Monday evening: "If our Government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home. It's a disgrace!
"Blood on your hands, PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out quarantine system.
"I had Government permission to work on the IPL, but I now have Government neglect."
Two hours later, the 51-year-old posted: "And for those who think this is a money exercise. Well forget it. This is what I do for a living and I have not made a penny having left early. So please stop the abuse and think of the thousands dying in India each day. It's called empathy. If only our Government had some!"
Morrison responded on Tuesday, saying it was "absurd" for Slater to accuse him of having "blood on your hands".
"I'm not going to fail Australia," Morrison added.
Slater played 74 tests and 42 one-day internationals for Australia, scoring 6299 runs and 14 centuries.
Sky News host Andrew Bolt declared he is "ashamed of Australia" over the threat of jail terms for Indian-Australians trying to return home.
"I hate people playing the race card. But even I must now say I am ashamed of Australia, which is making it a crime for Indian Australians to come back home,'' Bolt said.
"To me, it stinks of racism to tell the 8000 Indian Australians trying to come home that they must stay in India, in what Western Australia's Premier admitted was the 'epicentre of death and destruction'."
On Monday, Morrison slammed claims that the ban is racist, warning he's making the "hard calls" that have helped save 30,000 Australian lives.
"We are deeply, deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis in India. But the best way I can get them safely home is by doing what I am doing right now,'' the Prime Minister told 2GB radio.
Australian cricketers Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson returned home last week before the travel restrictions were introduced.
There are currently more than 30 Australian players, commentators, umpires and coaching staff participating in the glamorous T20 tournament — including Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, David Warner and Ricky Ponting.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has returned serve to cricket commentator Michael Slater for his blood on hands comment. Photo / Getty Images
Last week, Morrison said Australian cricket talent in India would not be given any preferential treatment.
"They've travelled there privately under their own arrangements. This wasn't part of an Australian tour," Morrison said.
"And they're under their own resources and they'll be using those resources, I'm sure, to see them return to Australia in accordance with our own arrangements."
A huge international effort is under way to deliver much-needed oxygen to cities around India where coronavirus cases have skyrocketed to the point where people infected, including babies, have died while waiting for treatment outside hospitals.
Long queues were seen at vaccination centres across the weekend, with people desperate to be inoculated against a disease that has overwhelmed the healthcare system.
Social media platforms have been flooded with pleas from people looking for oxygen cylinders, medicines and hospital beds as the Covid-19 wave causes widespread shortages.
Monday evening's IPL match between the Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore was rescheduled after two players tested positive to Covid-19.
Kolkata's players and staff, including Australia's vice-captain Pat Cummins and compatriot Ben Cutting, were placed in isolation after Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier tested positive to the virus.
Soon after, it was revealed three members of the Chennai Super Kings camp also tested positive for Covid-19 — chief executive officer Kasi Viswanathan, bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji and a bus cleaner.
Australian Jason Behrendorff, who plays for the Chennai Super Kings, has tested negative, as have brothers Mike and David Hussey, who hold assistant coach roles in the IPL.
