Indian Premier League cancelled over India-Pakistan conflict

Hours after shaken players and officials were transported out of Dharamsala, the unthinkable has happened to the IPL – with a $16b sledgehammer potentially coming down on the competition.

Anguished Australian players will return home after the IPL announced it will be suspended for at least a week with no date set for a return.

Indian cricket chiefs have confirmed the postponement of the $16 billion IPL with new dates and venues to be discussed during the break.

If the border war between India and Pakistan intensifies there is no certainty the tournament will return before the monsoon season arrives next month.

The IPL said in a statement while cricket remains a national passion “there is nothing greater than the nation ... and its security.’’

It’s understood the majority of Australian players and officials in India have already booked or are in the process of booking flights home from the country as tensions escalate in the conflict with Pakistan.

“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 chief executive, 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.”

Serious questions must be asked about why BCCI organisers attempted to play the fixture between Ricky Ponting’s Punjab Kings and Mitchell Starc’s Delhi Capitals on Thursday night in Dharamsala, when it is so close to the Pakistan border and the conflict hot spot of Kashmir.

The match was dramatically abandoned due to claims of a power failure linked to rockets being fired nearby.

Sources have confirmed the experience was harrowing for players and officials.

Punjab Kings’ head coach Ricky Ponting (R) chats with a match official. Picture: Getty

There are suspicions from those who were there that the lights were more likely cut due to safety concerns for players and fans rather than the power failing.

Alarm bells were ringing about flood lights at the ground drawing unnecessary attention at such a troubled time.

Airports in the region are closed and were already before the match started.

Given there was already consideration being given to moving Punjab’s next home match away from the border to Mumbai, it’s extraordinary that organisers still attempted to go ahead with Thursday night’s match.

Shaken players and officials from Punjab and Delhi were on Friday morning transported out of Dharamsala by bus and then train, with airports still closed.

Mitchell Starc is among the Australian players who has been playing in the IPL this year. Picture: AFP

Starc is travelling with his wife, Australian women’s captain Alyssa Healy and other overseas players also have their families with them.

Outside of Ponting and Starc there was a stack of Australians involved in the chaotic abandonment of Punjab versus Delhi including Josh Inglis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, Xavier Bartlett, Mitch Owen as well as coaches Brad Haddin and James Hopes.

The Pakistan Cricket Board appeared one step ahead of their Indian counterparts with the postponement of their PSL competition, flying their contingent of overseas stars which includes David Warner and Sean Abbott to Dubai where they hope to resume the PSL tournament in the UAE within a week.

Spectators leave the stands after authorities evacuated the stadium during the clash between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals. Picture: Getty

Australian players are not thinking about any prospect of the IPL being moved to another country, rather they are focused on getting home to Australian shores.

There is speculation the BCCI will make an official announcement about the future of the IPL tournament later on Friday Indian time.

There are reports the IPL season could attempt to reconvene for completion in September, although there are no guarantees that would be in India given the current state of play.

The soaring anxiety levels of players and officials is laid bare in the fact tickets home have been booked by overseas stars before any official direction has been given about the tournament.

Youths gather in front of the wreckage of a restaurant's shade outside the Rawalpindi cricket stadium after an alleged drone was shot down. Picture: AFP

Asked about Punjab Kings’ plans during the ill-fated match on Thursday, former Australia captain Ponting shrugged: “We’re not sure where we’re going at the moment … there’s been some talk about Ahmedabad and some talk about Jaipur, but we’re only really worried about tonight’s match.

“You know, there’s been a fair bit happening the last few days and we’re just trying to make sure we focus on our performance here.”

Pakistan’s T20 cricket league will be relocated to the United Arab Emirates, officials said Friday, after Indian attacks on the country including a drone that reached Rawalpindi stadium.

“Pakistan Cricket Board confirms that the remaining eight matches of the Pakistan Super League have been shifted to the United Arab Emirates,” read a PCB statement.

Originally published as Indian Premier League cancelled over India-Pakistan conflict