Indian Premier League (IPL) halted for a week due to escalating India-Pakistan tensions
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The tournament's schedule and locations are yet to be finalized, as Devajit Saikia, the honorary secretary of the Indian cricket board (BCCI), announced in a statement. He further emphasized, "Cricket may capture our hearts, but nothing outshines the nation and its sovereignty, integrity, and the security of our motherland."
This statement comes in the wake of the recent chaos when the T20 competition was put on hold following disturbances. A game in Dharamsala was called off abruptly on Thursday after an apparent malfunctioning of floodlights. According to media reports, the stadium was promptly evacuated and players were ushered out of the premises in team buses.
Tension escalated between the nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan on Friday, as each nation reported different inconsistencies. India claimed to have successfully repelled a series of drone and artillery attacks originating from Pakistan the previous night. In contrast, officials from Pakistan reported increasing civilian casualties.
Amid this turmoil, Pakistan cricket delayed the remaining matches of their own T20 league and relocated them to the United Arab Emirates for the sake of player safety.
The Indian Premier League (IPL), a popular tournament featuring cricket superstars from around the globe, began on March 22. Lucknow Super Giants were originally scheduled to clash with Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday. With the suspension, there are now 12 group-stage games left, and it remains unclear if and when the playoffs will take place.
Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are currently at the top of the table with 16 points each. The final was set for May 25 at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, but as of now, its fate is uncertain.
Notable international players in IPL 2025 include Australians Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, and former captain Ricky Ponting, who coaches Punjab. Some Australian players in India might return home as early as Saturday, according to reports.
Cricket Australia has been keeping a close eye on the escalating situation and communicating with their players and support staff in the region.
The unrest between India and Pakistan dates back to their three full-scale wars, primarily over the disputed territory of Kashmir, both claiming it in its entirety but administering separate portions since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.
Recently, on May 4, India retaliated with missile strikes against targets in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir earlier, which India accused Pakistan of orchestrating. Pakistan, however, denies any involvement. The ongoing hostilities have resulted in more than 50 deaths on both sides, marking one of the worst periods of violence between these neighboring nations in recent years.
As the geopolitical situation remains volatile, fans eagerly await updates on the resumption and any potential schedule or venue changes for the much-anticipated IPL 2025 tournament.
© 2025 AFP
- In light of the escalating tension between India and Pakistan, the Himalayan locations for the upcoming IPL 2025 games, scheduled for May 25 at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, remain uncertain.
- Despite the integrity of sports being prioritized, the cricket board (BCCI) may reconsider hosting the IPL 2025 games overnight, considering the ongoing geopolitical unrest.
- Considering the ongoing chaos between India and Pakistan, the future of India's popular cricket event, IPL 2025, might witness a relocation similar to the Pakistani T20 league which moved to the United Arab Emirates for player safety.
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