The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has been suspended indefinitely due to the increasing military tensions between India and Pakistan. The decision came after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which triggered major security concerns across the country.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the suspension on Friday, just a day after the Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match in Dharamsala had to be stopped midway because of air raid alerts in nearby areas like Jammu and Pathankot.

The BCCI held an emergency meeting with IPL officials and said the safety of players, support staff, and fans was the most important reason for this decision. A senior BCCI official told PTI, "It does not look nice that cricket goes on while the country is at war."

Because of the suspension, the rest of the IPL matches—which were planned to continue until May 25 in Kolkata—are now in doubt. The BCCI said that new dates for the remaining matches will be announced later.

Match suspended midway, foreign players set to return

On May 8, the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals had to be stopped in the middle because of serious security concerns. Fans were evacuated from the stadium as nearby cities faced possible attacks.

Initially, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal had said that the next match—Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru—on May 9 would still happen. But the worsening situation led the board to change its decision.

Dhumal told PTI, “We are reviewing the situation. It is evolving rapidly. Any decision will be made in consultation with government agencies and based on logistical considerations.”

Now, the league is officially paused until further notice. The BCCI is working with the Indian government and security agencies to monitor the situation.

Overseas players had already shown worry due to the growing tension. After the suspension, they will be allowed to return to their home countries. Cricket Australia has released a statement saying it is monitoring the situation closely and keeping in touch with Australian players and coaches in India.

India and Pakistan exchange missile attacks

The situation got much worse on Wednesday night when the Pakistani Army launched drone and missile attacks on at least 15 Indian cities. Important areas like Srinagar, Awantipora, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Chandigarh, and Bhuj were targeted.

India responded strongly on Friday morning, launching kamikaze drones and destroying a Pakistani air defence post near Lahore. Other attempted attacks on Satwari, RS Pura, Arnia, and Samba were stopped by Indian defence systems, avoiding major damage or loss.

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