NEW DELHI, May 09 The Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI) on Friday (May 9) decided to suspend the Indian Premier League
(IPL) 2025 amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, reported
Indian media.
On Thursday (May 8), the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals
hosted at HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala was abandoned due to security
reasons as several parts of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan
were under attack from Pakistan.
“The IPL 2025 season has been suspended,” a BCCI source close to the
development informed Indian sports website MyKhel. The board has decided
after actively reviewing the situation and consultations with the
Government of India. Further details on whether IPL 2025 has been
suspended for the entire season or will be shifted to a later date are
awaited.
A BCCI official had informed MyKhel, on condition of anonymity, last
night that the entire league is at risk of being called off due to
rising geo-political tensions between the neighbours. A formal decision
on the tournament’s fate was expected on Friday (May 9) after internal
consultations.
Earlier, Cricket Australia (CA) said it is “closely monitoring” the
situation in India and Pakistan as more than 20 Australian players and
coaches are currently participating in both the IPL and Pakistan Super
League (PSL).
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the
remaining PSL matches will be relocated to the UAE due to escalating
security concerns.
“We continue to monitor the evolving situation in both Pakistan and
India closely, with regular updates from the Australian Government, PCB,
BCCI, and local authorities,” CA said in a statement. “We are also
maintaining direct contact with our players and support staff currently
based in the region.”
According to reports, multiple Australian players have voiced concerns
over their safety and are eager to return home at the earliest.
IPL chairman Arun Dhumal, who was present in Dharamsala last evening and
was seen urging the spectators to exit calmly from the venue, stated on
Thursday that a decision on the league’s future will depend on
directives from the Indian government.
Earlier, an Indian Premier League match between Punjab Kings and Delhi
Capitals in Dharamsala — less than 200 kilometres (125 miles) from the
town of Jammu, where explosions were reported hours earlier — was
abandoned Thursday because of apparent floodlight failure.
Sunday’s game between Punjab and Mumbai Indians, which had been due to
take place in Dharamsala, has been moved.
“We are monitoring the situation, seeking the government’s advice, and
will take the final decision on the IPL tomorrow,” Rajeev Shukla,
vice-president of cricket board the BCCI, told The Indian Express on
Thursday.
“The situation is changing day by day. We will do whatever we are told
and inform all stakeholders. “At the moment, our priority is the safety
of all players, fans and stakeholders.”
The newspaper — without disclosing its sources — said that the BCCI is
“keeping its options open”, with suspending the world’s richest cricket
league or revising its itinerary among possible options.
The 10-team competition, which features numerous cricket stars from
around the world, started on March 22.
The final is scheduled for May 25 at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens and
typically attracts a vast global television audience.
Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association are in
regular contact with players about the situation and giving support, The
Age in Melbourne reported.
Australians Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head and
Mitch Marsh are all in the IPL, while former skipper Ricky Ponting
coaches Punjab.
Pakistan cricket has already taken the decision to move the remaining
matches in its T20 league to the United Arab Emirates because of player
safety