IPL 2025 suspended indefinitely amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan

The BCCI has indefinitely suspended the remaining IPL 2025 matches due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. This decision follows the cancellation of a match due to air raid alerts and missile strikes on terror camps in Pakistan.

Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, the remaining matches of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 have been suspended indefinitely, confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday, May 9.

The decision by the BCCI has come just a day after the IPL 2025 match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamshala was abandoned due to security concerns after Pakistan launched missiles into India, which was successfully thwarted by the Indian defence forces. Pakistan’s retaliation to India was followed by Indian Armed Forces successfully carrying out the Operation Sindoor as a response to Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.

In the middle of the Punjab Kings’ innings, two floodlights went off and security officials alerted the players, umpires, and spectators at the stadium to leave the premises. IPL chairman Arun Dhumal rushed to the ground in order to tell the spectators to leave the stadium. After the abandonment of the match, the BCCI stakeholders held an emergency meeting and reportedly arranged a special Vande Bharat train for players, support staff, and broadcasting crew to commute to Delhi.

No IPL when India is at war

As per the report by Press Trust of India, a BCCI official stated that continuing with the IPL 2025 does not seem to be a good idea when the country is already at war.

“It does not look nice that cricket goes on while the country is at war,” a BCCI official told PTI.

With the indefinite suspension of remaining matches of the IPL 2025, the scheduled clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow stands cancelled until further notice, along with all other fixtures in the league calendar.

The IPL 2025 was suspended when there are 12 matches are left to play in the league stage, , scheduled for two each in Lucknow, Delhi, Chennai, and Bengaluru each, three in Ahmedabad, and one each in Mumbai and Jaipur, followed by the playoffs, to be played in Hyderabad and Kolkata. The final was scheduled to take place on May 25 in Kolkata.

The resumption of the IPL 2025 will depend entirely on the evolving security situation and the central government's assessment, with the BCCI expected to consult all stakeholders before taking any further decisions regarding revised schedules or potential relocation of matches.

For the first time since 2021, the Indian Premier League was forced to come to a halt mid-season. In 2021, the BCCI was forced to suspend the tournament indefinitely after players and coaching staff from multiple teams tested for COVID-19, when the IPL was taking place in India. A couple of months later, the IPL 2021 was resumed in UAE, where the remainder of the tournament was conducted under strict bio-secure protocols and centralized venues to ensure player safety and tournament completion.

India hits back at Pakistan with fierce counter-attack

Meanwhile, Indian defence forces have reportedly captured two Pakistan fighter pilots in Jaisalmer and Akhnoor. Three Pakistani fighter jets have been shot down so far. One of them was brought down near Lathi in the Pokhran area of Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer sector. Another aircraft, an AWACS (a radar-equipped surveillance plane), was shot down inside Pakistan's Punjab province.

In retaliation to Pakistan’s missile attack, Indian Armed Forces countered-attack by targeting Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad. It was reported that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was moved out of his official residence after a huge blast was heard near his residence.

Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir was reportedly detained by Pakistan authorities amid strike against India and Sahir Shamshad Mirza has taken over as interim military commander, intensifying political uncertainty within Pakistan as the conflict with India escalates.