The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has been suspended for one week due to rising tensions between India and Pakistan. The decision was made by the IPL Governing Council after consultations with key stakeholders, including franchisees, players, broadcasters, sponsors, and fans.
The suspension comes amid artillery exchanges across the Kashmir frontier, raising concerns about a wider conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations. Pakistan recently moved the remainder of its PSL season to the UAE after a drone incident in Rawalpindi Stadium, which Pakistan attributes to India.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stated that the nation’s sovereignty, integrity, and security are paramount, and cricket, although a national passion, takes a backseat to these concerns.
The IPL, with an estimated viewership of 500 million people, features top players from around the world, including English players Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, and Liam Livingstone. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has been in regular communication with these players amid the rising tensions.
The suspension follows a tragic shooting incident in Indian-administered Kashmir and subsequent missile strikes by India on Pakistan-administered areas, which Pakistan claims were not targeting militant bases. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed that India will “pay the price” for its actions.
