India’s premier cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League (IPL), has been suspended for one week due to escalating military tensions with Pakistan, officials announced Friday.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the immediate pause of the tournament, which is internationally renowned and widely watched, citing the need for a full assessment of the security situation. A revised schedule and venue updates will be shared later, the board said.
The suspension follows intense cross-border shelling between Indian and Pakistani forces in Kashmir, part of the ongoing conflict that escalated after a deadly attack on tourists in the region.
The IPL, held annually from March to May, features top international players from countries such as Australia, England, and South Africa. This season’s 10-team competition still had 12 group-stage matches left before the playoffs. The final was originally set for May 25 in Kolkata.
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By Friday night, many foreign players and broadcast crew members had been authorized to return home, casting doubt on whether the season would resume. Around 70 overseas players were part of the tournament this year.
In its statement, the BCCI emphasized that while cricket is deeply loved in India, national security and sovereignty take precedence.
The decision follows the cancellation of Thursday’s match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala due to a government-enforced power outage. Players from both teams returned to New Delhi on Friday.
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Punjab’s next match had already been relocated to Mumbai after airport closures in northern India disrupted logistics.
Meanwhile, Pakistan had earlier announced plans to shift its own T20 league, the Pakistan Super League (PSL), to the UAE due to rising concerns from foreign players. However, by Friday, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced a full postponement of the PSL, without confirming whether the tournament would resume later.