Tensions persist, India suspends IPL, Pakistan postpones PSL
- Last updated: May 9, 2025 | 21:31
The Indian Premier League (IPL) was suspended for one week on Friday while the Pakistan Super League (PSL) postponed its remaining matches in the wake of the ongoing conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
"The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to suspend the remainder of the ongoing IPL 2025 with immediate effect for one week," secretary Devajit Saikia said in a statement on Friday.
The IPL governing council consulted the franchises and players and "considered it prudent to act in the collective interest of all stakeholders," he said.
"While cricket remains a national passion, there is nothing greater than the nation and its sovereignty, integrity, and security of our country," Saikia added.
"The BCCI remains firmly committed to support all efforts that safeguard India and will always align its decisions in the best interest of the nation."
Friday's IPL match in Dharamsala was abandoned midway through, with organisers citing a power outage, while Sunday's game at the same north Indian city was shifted to Ahmedabad because of the border tension.
The two countries have clashed since India struck multiple locations in Pakistan on Wednesday that it said were "terrorist camps" in retaliation for a deadly attack in Kashmir last month, in which it said Islamabad was involved.
Pakistan denied the accusation but both countries have exchanged cross-border firing and shelling and sent drones and missiles into each other's airspace since then, with nearly four dozen people dying in the violence.
The IPL still has 12 group matches left, which are due to be followed by the playoffs culminating in the May 25 final in Kolkata.
New dates and venues for the remaining matches will be declared "in due course," said Saikia.
The conflict took its toll on the other side of the border as well with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) deciding to move the last eight PSL games to ensure "possible reckless targeting" of the players.
"The decision to postpone the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been taken pursuant to advice received from the prime minister Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif," said a PCB release.
The tenth edition of the PSL Involved 37 foreign players including from England, Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies and South Africa.
Most of the foreign players wanted to leave Pakistan after a drone fell adjacent to Rawalpindi cricket stadium where a match on Wednesday was cancelled.
The top-notch players included former Australian opener David Warner, former West Indian skipper Jason Holder and New Zealand's current white-ball captain Michael Bracewell.
There were eight matches remaining in the six-team PSL, including the play-offs and the final scheduled for May 18.
PCB said safety of the players was paramount. "We have sincere regard for the mental well-being of participating players and the sentiments of our foreign players, and we respect the concerns of their families who want to see them back home."
Agencies