New Delhi/Islamabad, May 9, 2025: As military tensions continue to rise between India and Pakistan, both countries’ premier cricket leagues have been disrupted. The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been suspended for a week, while the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has moved its remaining matches to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), citing concerns for players’ safety.
In a statement released Friday, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia announced the suspension of IPL 2025, calling it a necessary step in light of ongoing hostilities.
“While cricket remains a national passion, there is nothing greater than the nation and its sovereignty, integrity, and security,” Saikia said, emphasizing the league’s decision was made after consulting franchises and stakeholders.
The suspension came after Friday’s IPL match in Dharamsala was abandoned midway due to what officials described as a power outage. Sunday’s scheduled match in the same city has now been shifted to Ahmedabad due to heightened security concerns along India’s northern border.
The conflict intensified this week after India claimed to have struck “terrorist camps” in Pakistan following a deadly attack in Kashmir last month, which New Delhi alleges was supported by Islamabad. Pakistan has denied the charges, but both nations have since exchanged cross-border shelling and launched drones and missiles into each other’s territory. Nearly four dozen lives have been lost in the spiraling violence.
The IPL, which has 12 group matches and playoffs remaining, including the final on May 25 in Kolkata, now awaits rescheduling. Saikia said new dates and venues would be announced “in due course.”
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that the last eight matches of PSL 2025 would be relocated to the UAE, citing the threat of “reckless targeting” of players amid regional instability.
“The PCB has always maintained that politics and sports must remain separate,” said PCB Chairman and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. “However, as a responsible organization, we prioritized the safety and mental well-being of all players.”
The PCB confirmed that final arrangements, including dates and stadiums for the relocated matches, would be shared soon.
The decision marks the second time in recent years that the PSL has had to shift its matches abroad due to security concerns, highlighting the volatile impact of regional geopolitics on international sports.
As the conflict unfolds, cricket—often a symbol of subcontinental unity—has once again become a casualty of larger political tensions between the two rivals.
