Michael Slater accused the Australian prime minister Scott Morrison of having “blood on your hands” for banning citizens from returning home from India.
The former Test batsman is working as a commentator at the IPL, and is one of a number of Australians involved in the tournament.
Australia suspended direct passenger flights from India last week. The ban, to last until at least May 15, still allowed people to fly in through a third country until Saturday, when the new measure announcing a full ban closed that loophole.
The government has threatened to punish breaches with fines of around $50,000 and five years’ imprisonment.
Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa returned home last month, as the huge surge in Covid cases in India took hold.
A number of their compatriots have stayed on, with the likes of fast bowler Pat Cummins and commentator Brett Lee pledging substantial financial donations to the aid effort.
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
— Michael Slater (@mj_slats) May 3, 2021
Slater is furious with the new policy that means no clear route home for the Australians in India.
“If our government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home,” Slater wrote on Twitter.
“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.”
The remainder of the IPL season is in doubt after two Kolkata Knight Riders players tested positive for Covid.
There were also reports of positive cases within the Chennai Super Kings backroom staff, as well as among the groundstaff at Delhi.
India reported more than 300,000 new coronavirus cases on Monday for the 12th consecutive day, taking its overall caseload to nearly 20 million.
"And for those who think this is a money exercise, well forget it," Slater wrote in a later tweet.
"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!"
