In a dramatic move reflecting the gravity of the current geopolitical crisis, the Indian Premier League (IPL) was suspended indefinitely on Friday as tensions between India and Pakistan reached a boiling point. The decision came a day after the Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match in Dharamsala was abruptly called off following air raid alerts in nearby cities, including Jammu and Pathankot.
“It does not look nice that cricket goes on while the country is at war,” a senior BCCI official told PTI, confirming the suspension. The tournament, originally scheduled to conclude with the final in Kolkata on May 25, has been left hanging with 12 league matches and four knockout games still to be played.
The IPL’s abrupt halt follows India’s missile strikes on terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, a response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. On Thursday night, large parts of Punjab and Chandigarh were plunged into blackout amid explosion-like sounds and air raid sirens, prompting authorities to enforce emergency protocols.
The ripple effect was felt beyond Indian borders. Earlier in the day, the Pakistan Super League was shifted to the UAE following drone attacks reported in Lahore and Rawalpindi, allegedly launched by Indian forces.
The growing military escalation has alarmed foreign players, many of whom have decided to leave India. A total of 62 overseas cricketers were signed up by the ten IPL franchises in last year’s auction, and teams are now arranging immediate departures.
Teams like the Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, previously stationed in Dharamsala, are currently en route to the national capital by road. Friday’s scheduled clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Lucknow has also been called off.
This unprecedented suspension of India’s premier cricket league underscores the magnitude of the regional conflict and raises serious questions about the immediate future of international sporting events on the subcontinent.
