Indian Premier League postponed amid India-Pakistan conflict

Air raid warnings near Dharamsala forced the postponement of the Indian Premier League as players and staff from Australia and elsewhere rush to try to leave the country amid mounting conflict between India and Pakistan.

In a statement on Friday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced it had suspended the remainder of the 2025 IPL “with immediate effect for one week”.

“The decision was taken by the IPL governing council after due consultation with all key stakeholders following the representations from most of the franchisees, who conveyed the concern and sentiments of their players, and also the views of the broadcaster, sponsors and fans,” the statement read.

Mitchell Starc in action at the IPL. Credit: AP

Some Australian players were looking at booking their own flights to get home from India, after the extraordinary sight of the game between Delhi and Punjab being summarily cancelled due to a blackout stemming from air raid warnings in nearby Jammu and Pathankot. All will now fly home as soon as practicable.

Punjab are coached by Ricky Ponting, while Mitchell Starc is Delhi’s spearhead. Alyssa Healy, the Australian women’s captain and Starc’s wife, is also in India for the tournament.

As late as Thursday afternoon, it was all systems go for the IPL. Mounting conflict between India and Pakistan following a militant attack in Kashmir had forced the latter country’s T20 super league to pause, and by midnight the Pakistan Cricket Board had announced the tournament would relocate to Dubai.

Before the game, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia claimed that overseas players were happy to stay on for the duration of the IPL.

“They are quite comfortable. Everyone in the league is comfortable,” Saikia told Reuters. “The safety and security of every player – be it a local player or a foreigner – every match official and every fan is important for us. We have the clearance of every single authority.”

The cancellation of the game in Dharamsala was initially put down to a power failure that affected the floodlights. But the true situation was made clear by how the IPL’s chief Arun Dhumal and other officials were seen urgently telling the packed crowd to disperse once the lights went down.

“We are reviewing the situation right now. It is an evolving situation. We haven’t received any directive from the government. Obviously, the decision will be taken keeping all the logistics in mind,” Dhumal told PTI after the abandonment. “It is an evolving situation and any decision will be taken keeping the best interest of all stakeholders in mind.”

The PSL’s move to the UAE, made swiftly after talks began on Wednesday (AEST), has also served to add to the difficulty for IPL organisers by claiming the most straightforward venue for a relocation.

Indian cricket chiefs considered other relocation options. South Africa had hosted the tournament previously at a similar time of year. There was also the possibility of finishing the event in southern Indian centres like Chennai or Bengaluru.

But what was clear from overnight events is the fact that in a conflict between India and Pakistan, cricket will suffer in both countries, not just one.

According to several player agents, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, a growing number of Australian players expressed anxiety over their safety prior to the BCCI’s announcement. Many were ready to leave India as soon as possible, particularly those based near sensitive border areas.

Players in Dharamsala were reportedly to leave the city on a special train on Friday, though their next destination was unclear. Some airports have been closed in India, forcing lengthy rail or car journeys to Delhi, among other destinations.

The likes of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head and Mitch Marsh and Starc have been plying their trade in the IPL, while Australian coaches Ponting and Brad Haddin were caught up in the latest drama.

Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association were in regular contact with players, providing support and advice as the situation evolved. CA’s chair Mike Baird and chief executive Todd Greenberg hosted a scheduled board meeting in Melbourne on Friday.

“The safety and welfare of our players and staff is always a core priority, and we support today’s decision by the BCCI,” Greenberg said in a statement.

“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.”

Meanwhile, Australian duo Sam Perry and Ian Higgins, who form the highly popular The Grade Cricketer podcast, have decided to cancel their live shows in India and return to Australia.

Perry and Higgins have been performing live shows to Indian audiences in recent days but confirmed to this masthead they will fly from Mumbai to Melbourne due to safety concerns.

The PSL has eight matches left to run, including two more games for David Warner’s Karachi Kings.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement: “I regret that our domestic audience and cricket lovers will not be able to watch these matches in Pakistan’s stadiums.

“The PCB has always stood by the position that politics and sports need to be kept apart. However, in view of the extremely irresponsible and dangerous Indian act of targeting the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, which was manifestly done to disrupt the ongoing HBL Pakistan Super League X, the PCB has decided to shift the remaining matches to UAE so that the domestic as well as foreign cricketers, who are our precious guests, can be saved from the possible reckless targeting by India.”

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