New Delhi: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has been suspended indefinitely following rising tensions between India and Pakistan. The decision came on Friday, just a day after the Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match in Dharamsala was abruptly halted midway due to air raid alarms triggered in nearby regions.
PBKS vs DC match was stopped around 9:35 PM IST with no prior warning. Initially, it was described as a “technical failure,” but the real cause became clear shortly after. The cities close to the venue, like Pathankot and Jammu, were placed under red alert due to explosion-like sounds and air raid sirens, which led to sudden evacuation.
The scenes at the stadium were tense as the IPL chairman, Arun Dhumal, was seen motioning to the crowd to leave the ground, and players were hurried onto team buses. Several players, including foreign recruits, were clearly unsettled by the events, and some even left with their gear still on. There was visible confusion, with players from both teams mistakenly boarding each other’s buses in the rush to return to their hotels.
IPL Chairman and Local Boy Arun Dhumal seen requesting people to leave the stadium #PBKSvDC #IPL pic.twitter.com/qxL1nCaOBR
— Shivang Soni 🕊️ (@shivang_so20265) May 8, 2025
BCCI official statement
A senior BCCI official confirmed to PTI that the league would not continue given the ongoing military situation. The official said, “It does not look nice that cricket goes on while the country is at war.” The season was originally scheduled to conclude on May 25 in Kolkata.
The suspension comes two weeks after India launched missile strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, following the tragic April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. Tensions have remained high since Thursday night, witnessing blackouts in several regions across Punjab and Chandigarh as well.
The situation had been monitored by the BCCI closely, and after consulting the central government, they have called off the league for now. However, the rapidly worsening conditions and safety concerns for players, fans, and stakeholders accelerated the decision-making process.
The security of the players was ensured after the match was stopped in Dharamshala. A special train was reportedly being arranged to evacuate both teams from Dharamsala, as air travel was temporarily restricted due to the alert status in the region.
Pakistan Super League shifted to UAE
Earlier in the day, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was also moved to the UAE, further emphasising the severity of the situation in the subcontinent. With two major cricket leagues affected in a matter of hours, it’s clear that the region’s sporting calendar is unlikely to resume normalcy anytime soon.
IPL 2025 suspended indefinitely due to India-Pakistan tensions after PBKS vs DC match halted amid air raid sirens and regional blackouts. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
