Tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising over time, and things don’t look good. This state of war seems to impact not only the financial situation but also cricket. Even the IPL has been halted at the moment.
Due to the uncertain situation, overseas players have left India over IPL uncertainty. The last game of Punjab vs. Delhi was halted suddenly due to an attack threat, and since then, the tournament has been postponed.
Key Updates:
- IPL 2025 was stopped after 57 matches. There are still 16 games left.
- The match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamshala was cancelled. At first, it was blamed on a technical issue, but later it was linked to safety concerns after reports of attacks in some Indian cities and a government blackout.
- Fans were quickly taken out of the stadiums, and players were moved to secure places.
- The BCCI (Indian cricket board) held urgent meetings and is thinking about restarting the league later in May if the situation improves and the government agrees.
Foreign Players Leaving India
Due to the uncertainty of when the tournament will start again, the foreign players have started to leave India for their safety. The attacks between India and Pakistan have been prominent, which has resulted in the steps taken by the foreign players.
As soon as the suspension was announced, many foreign players began leaving India. Most were expected to be gone by Saturday, May 10.
Australian players like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, and Mitch Marsh, along with coaches Ricky Ponting and Brad Haddin, were among the first to head home.
Teams have shut down their training camps, and flights have been arranged for foreign players to return home.
Devajit Saikia Views As Players Leave IPL Over Uncertainty
The BCCI secretary, Devajit, was unsure of what to expect from the players at the moment. Saikia stated that the decision to leave the country is truly in the hands of the players and their franchises.
The BCCI can’t intervene in what they can or cannot do with the foreign players or even the coaching staff. However, Saikia clarified that they will do everything in their power to provide the players with all the services to return.
When Will the IPL Start Again?
This is one of the most asked questions at the moment. Fans are waiting to know when the remaining matches of the IPL will start again. Just to make sure, the IPL has been suspended for a week.
In the recent news, the remaining 16 matches will be played in cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. As of now, this is all news, and the resumption of the tournament will be a direct order from the Indian government.
Teams are worried that top international players may not come back if the IPL schedule overlaps with their national commitments.
The BCCI is considering restarting the remaining matches in safer southern cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad, but it doesn’t know yet who will be available to play.
Will Foreign Players Return If IPL Starts Again?
This is a very tough question to answer. If the tournament starts in May itself, we might find it harder for foreign players to come back too quickly.
Foreign players leave India over IPL uncertainty, but they will be stacked up with international assignments shortly. Australia will be competing for the World Test Championship finals while West Indies and England will be up for the ball series.
Not only this, but the logistics and management will be more complicated for the BCCI to arrange. What’s even more important is whether the BCCI would want to restart the IPL again on such short notice. Only time will tell what will happen with the remaining 16 matches of the tournament.
