BCCI suspends IPL indefinitely amid escalating tensions with Pakistan
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has been suspended indefinitely following a sharp escalation in military tensions between India and Pakistan, triggered by the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made the announcement on Thursday after an emergency meeting with tournament officials, citing the safety of players, support staff, and fans as the primary concern.
Earlier, the May 8 match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala was halted midway due to air raid alerts in nearby Jammu and Pathankot. Spectators were evacuated amid fears of a possible strike, raising serious concerns about the tournament’s viability.
Although IPL chairman Arun Dhumal initially indicated that the May 9 match between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru would proceed as planned, the deteriorating security situation led to a reversal.
“We are reviewing the situation. It is evolving rapidly. Any decision will be made in consultation with government agencies and based on logistical considerations,” Dhumal told PTI.
The BCCI confirmed that the league is suspended until further notice and is closely coordinating with authorities while awaiting official directives.
The decision has also drawn attention from overseas cricket boards. With numerous international players and coaches involved, Cricket Australia released a statement on Friday saying it was monitoring the situation closely and staying in touch with its personnel in India.
Tensions escalated significantly on Wednesday night when the Pakistani Army launched a coordinated wave of drone and missile attacks targeting 15 Indian cities. Key locations hit included Awantipora and Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir; Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Kapurthala, Adampur, and Bathinda in Punjab; Chandigarh; Nal, Phalodi, and Uttarlai in Rajasthan; and Bhuj in Gujarat.
In response, India launched a counter-offensive on Friday morning, deploying kamikaze drones to destroy a Pakistani air defence installation near Lahore. Additional attempted strikes in the Jammu region—including Satwari, RS Pura, Arnia, and Samba—were successfully intercepted by Indian air defence systems, preventing casualties and damage.
