NEW DELHI: India’s biggest domestic cricket tournament was suspended for one week on Friday following the escalating military tensions with Pakistan.

The Indian Premier League, the sport’s richest tournament which features top players from around the world and attracts hundreds of millions of TV viewers, was halted with immediate effect, the Board of Control for Cricket in India said.

“The 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.”

Officials paused the T20 competition after a match on Thursday was abandoned in Dharamsala, less than 200 kilometres (125 miles) from the northern city of Jammu, where explosions were reported hours earlier.

On a third day of exchanges between the nuclear-armed neighbours on Friday, India said it repulsed a wave of Pakistani drone and artillery attacks overnight.

Officials in Pakistan reported more civilian deaths.

The conflict took its toll on the other side of the border as well with the Pakistan Cricket Board deciding to move the last eight Pakistan Super League games because of player safety.

Thursday’s match in the IPL between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was abruptly called off after 10.1 overs when the power went out during a government mandated blackout in the Himalayan hill town of Dharamsala.

The stadium was swiftly evacuated and players whisked out of the ground in the team bus, according to media reports.

IPL chairman Arun Dhumal was seen signalling to fans to leave the stadium.

Punjab’s next game against Mumbai Indians had already been moved from Dharamsala to Mumbai because of the closure of several airports in the Indian northwestern corridor.

The suspension will come as a setback for a Reliance-Disney joint venture which has broadcast rights for the matches, and also scores of companies that have committed millions of dollars for advertising.

After striking the $8.5-billion media merger with Walt Disney last year, Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance was targeting small businesses and promoting unconventional neuroscience studies to boost its revenues from the IPL.

The 10-team IPL, which features cricket stars from around the world, started on March 22.

Lucknow Super Giants had been scheduled to host Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday.

There are 12 games left in the group stage, which should have been followed by the playoffs, scheduled to be played in Hyderabad and Kolkata.

New dates and venues for the remaining matches will be declared “in due course”, said Saikia.

Gujarat Titans lead the table followed by Bengaluru with both teams on 16 points after 11 matches.

AUSTRALIANS DASH TO FLY HOME

Among the overseas stars are Australians Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head and Mitch Marsh, while former skipper Ricky Ponting coaches Punjab.

Some Australian players based in India could fly home as soon as Saturday, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said.

Others are facing logistical hurdles to leave the country due to airport closures, including bus rides of up to four hours before eight-hour train trips for some players.

The PSL’s move to the UAE, meanwhile, is expected to clear the path for overseas players to see out the tournament, with Australians David Warner, Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis among those featuring.

“The safety and welfare of our players and staff is always a core priority and we support today’s decision by the BCCI,” Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said. “We continue to work closely with the Australian Government, PCB and BCCI and are maintaining regular communication with players and support staff in both India and Pakistan.”

The England and Wales Cricket Board, meanwhile, said on Friday morning there has been regular dialogue with the 10 English players involved in the competition through a combination of the ECB, their security advisers, and the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA).

Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Reece Topley, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton have all featured this year.

The suspension of the IPL will leave a number of questions, including whether the lucrative league after a week or indeed at all this year.

If it does resume, there is also no guarantee overseas players would return and be available.

Questions will also linger over the ramifications regarding player payments, given all teams have up to two matches left to play out.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2025