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The Indian Premier League (IPL) was on Friday suspended indefinitely due to the escalating military confrontation between India and Pakistan.
A cloud of uncertainty had loomed over the ongoing edition ever since Thursday’s match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala was cancelled midway following air raid alerts in neighbouring cities of Jammu and Pathankot.
“It does not look nice that cricket goes on while the country is at war,” a BCCI official told PTI, confirming the suspension of the high-profile league, which was scheduled to conclude on May 25 in Kolkata.
Air Raid Alerts, Blackouts and Player Safety Concerns Force BCCI to Act
India launched missile attacks on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir a fortnight after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead.
On Thursday, blackouts were enforced in multiple districts including Pathankot, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, and Mohali in Punjab, as well as Union Territory Chandigarh, amid air raid sirens and reports of explosion-like sounds in Jammu.
Earlier in the day, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was shifted to the UAE after Indian drone strikes reportedly hit Lahore and Rawalpindi, intensifying the region’s crisis.
Foreign Players Begin Exit as 16 Matches Remain Unplayed
The escalating military conflict has caused considerable anxiety among foreign players, according to league sources. Many of the 62 overseas players, signed by 10 franchises during last year’s mega-auction, are expected to fly back in the coming days.
The players of Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings are currently travelling by road from Dharamsala to New Delhi.
On Friday, the IPL bandwagon had moved to Lucknow for the scheduled game between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. That match now stands suspended along with the rest of the tournament.
At the time of suspension, twelve league matches and four knockout games, including the final in Kolkata, were still to be played.
