IPL 2025 suspended as India-Pakistan tensions escalate
PSL 10 matches moved to Dubai after security scare in Rawalpindi
DUBAI: In a major disruption to the cricketing calendar, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly suspended the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 amid escalating hostilities between India and Pakistan.
It follows Thursday’s abandoned match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala, which was halted during the first innings. Initial reports cited a power outage, but multiple outlets later linked the disruption to air raid alerts in nearby Jammu and Pathankot.
The players and staff from both teams were evacuated via a special train to Delhi on Friday morning, as airports in the region were shut down due to security threats.
IPL 2025
IPL 2025 had reached its 58th match, including the abandoned game, with just 12 league matches remaining before the playoffs. These fixtures were scheduled across major Indian cities including Lucknow, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, with the final set for May 25 in Kolkata.
India-Pakistan tensions
The decision was cemented after Indian media cited government unease over continuing the high-profile tournament amid the brewing conflict. “It does not look nice that cricket goes on while the country is at war,” a BCCI official told Press Trust of India.
The cancellation follows India’s airstrikes in Pakistan, and retaliatory measures by Islamabad. These events have significantly disrupted both domestic and international cricket in the subcontinent.
PSL 2025 shifts to Dubai
On the other side of the border, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has moved the remaining eight fixtures of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 to Dubai. The decision was taken following a high-level emergency meeting involving franchise owners, government officials, and foreign stakeholders.
One of the key triggers was an Indian drone incident near the Pindi Cricket Stadium, which caused minor structural damage and led to the abrupt cancellation of the Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings match.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the move, stating it was crucial “to save both domestic and foreign cricketers.”