India’s biggest domestic sports tournament has been suspended for one week following the escalating military tensions with Pakistan, who have relocated their own premier event.
The Indian Premier League (IPL), which attracts top players from around the world, was halted with immediate effect, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said on Friday.
“Further updates regarding the new schedule and venues of the tournament will be announced in due course after a comprehensive assessment of the situation in consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders,” the BCCI said in a statement.
The decision comes after a night of artillery exchanges between Indian and Pakistani soldiers across their frontier in Kashmir, amid a growing military standoff that erupted following an attack on tourists in the India-controlled portion of the disputed region.
The IPL is the most popular cricket tournament in the world and runs between March and May. This year it featured 65 international cricketers from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, England and Afghanistan.
The 10-team competition still has 12 games to be played in the group stage before the knockout rounds. The final had been scheduled for May 25 in Kolkata.
The BCCI said the decision to suspend the tournament was made “in the collective interest of all stakeholders”.
“While cricket remains a national passion, there is nothing greater than the Nation and its sovereignty, integrity, and security of our country,” the BCCI statement said.
The suspension comes after the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamshala in northern India was abandoned on Thursday evening when the power went out during a government-mandated blackout. Punjab’s next game against Mumbai Indians had already been moved from Dharamshala to Mumbai because of the closure of several airports in the Indian northwestern corridor.
Pakistan earlier said it was moving its domestic T20 tournament to the United Arab Emirates because of the tensions. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the relocation of the Pakistan Super League to Dubai in a statement released early Friday, citing growing concerns among overseas players and the need to prioritise their safety.
On Thursday, authorities said an Indian drone fell inside the complex of the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium hours before the start of a PSL game in which several foreign cricketers from New Zealand, Australia, West Indies, South Africa and England were due to compete.
