David Warner to defy Australia travel ban to play in Indian Premier League

Citizens have been told to abandon all overseas travel but the opener is still planning on representing Sunrisers Hyderabad

• Coronavirus and cricket: Everything that's happened so far
• BCCI hopeful IPL will go ahead

David Warner will ignore a travel ban for Australian citizens to play in the Indian Premier League.

The 33-year-old is signed up with Sunrisers Hyderabad, who he has represented since 2014, for the 13th edition of the competition.

A global pandemic caused by the coronavirus outbreak has forced the IPL to be pushed back until at least April 15.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has enforced a level four travel ban, closing borders to visitors and advising all citizens to abandon overseas excursions.

But Warner's manager James Erskine says the left-hander is ready to defy the restrictions if the IPL does indeed go ahead.

"If the IPL is on David Warner's planning on going," Erskine told The Age. 

IPL postponed until April 15 as coronavirus continues to decimate global cricket schedule

"If things change dramatically, which can happen in the space of an hour, the answer is you change your mind. It's no different to everybody else."

Warner joined Sunrisers for $2.5 million (£1.24m) six years ago but would potentially expect a reduction on that fee.

Conversations are ongoing regarding the prospect of the IPL being staged after the BCCI admitted the competition will be reduced and revised after the start date was pushed back.

If indeed it did go ahead it would be a move out of sync with the rest of the sporting calendar, which has been decimated by the increasing spread of the coronavirus.

High-profile events such as the London Marathon, the French Open and the European Championships have all be postponed for a later date due to the crisis.

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