New Delhi: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has been suspended indefinitely as tensions between India and Pakistan continue to escalate. The decision was confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday, a day after the tournament’s uncertainty deepened following the abrupt cancellation of the Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match in Dharamsala due to air raid alerts in nearby regions.
“A war-like situation and cricket just don’t go together. It does not look nice that cricket goes on while the country is at war,” a senior BCCI official told PTI, confirming the suspension of the league, which was originally scheduled to conclude on May 25 in Kolkata.
The cancellation of Thursday’s match came after air raid alerts were issued in Jammu and Pathankot, triggering evacuations and a partial blackout in Dharamsala. At the time, the Punjab Kings were 122/1 when the floodlights went out. Initial reports cited a technical failure, but it was soon linked to broader security concerns across the region.
The move to suspend the league follows growing military escalation, including missile strikes launched by India targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. These actions came in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 people dead.
On Thursday, multiple districts in northern India, including Pathankot, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Mohali, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, experienced blackouts and air raid sirens. Reports of explosion-like sounds in Jammu further heightened public anxiety and disrupted civilian life.
In a related development, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was relocated to the United Arab Emirates earlier in the day, as the region’s deteriorating security situation continues to impact major sporting events.
With no clear timeline for resumption, the fate of IPL 2025 now hinges on geopolitical developments. Players, officials, and fans alike await further updates from the BCCI regarding the way forward for the world’s most popular T20 cricket league.
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