IPL 2025 likely to be Suspended Indefinitely Amid Escalating India-Pakistan Military Tensions
The Indian Premier League, 2025 has been suspended indefinitely amid escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan, BCCI sources confirmed on Friday. The decision is made due to the high security concerns that forced the abrupt cancellation of the Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match in Dharamsala, a venue now uncomfortably close to the high conflict zone.
“Player safety is our top priority. Given the situation, we felt it was best to pause the tournament for now,” a senior BCCI official told Hindustan Times. “We’ll reassess later, but at this moment, national interest comes first.”
The match in Dharamsala, which had already been delayed by rain, was called off mid-way after the stadium’s floodlights suddenly went out. What was first assumed to be a technical glitch soon turned into a serious concern when players and officials were alerted to possible security threats linked to air raid alerts in the nearby Pathankot area. Pathankot, located less than 100 km from the venue, has been on high alert following military escalations earlier in the week.
A player present at the match told The Indian Express that there was visible panic among both teams. Foreign players, especially, were said to be anxious, with some Australians reportedly prepared to fly home. The situation became tense enough that the nearly packed stadium—around 80% full—had to be evacuated. As fans exited, many were heard shouting anti-Pakistan slogans.
The incident forced the BCCI and IPL governing council into an emergency meeting to reassess the security situation. IPL chairman Arun Dhumal told PTI that they were waiting for government direction before making a final call, but the mood shifted quickly as the situation grew more unpredictable.
Even before the Dharamsala match, there were signs of growing unease. A scheduled game between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings—also meant to be held in Dharamsala—was shifted to Ahmedabad for security reasons. Following Thursday’s chaos, flights in and out of Dharamsala were suspended and team buses rerouted to safer locations.
Despite the suspension, not all matches were immediately affected. The clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Lucknow was still scheduled to go ahead on Friday night, though officials are expected to monitor the situation closely.
With the region on edge and military operations ongoing, the IPL—India’s biggest sporting spectacle—has come to a sudden, sobering halt.
