Cricket: IPL and PSL resume after India-Pakistan tensions – DW – 05/09/2025
What has happened between India and Pakistan?
India and Pakistan are engaged in conflict in Kashmir, a disputed territory between the two countries. Parts of Kashmir are controlled by India, Pakistan and China. India has carried out airstrikes, which it says targeted militant groups in the region in recent days, with Pakistan describing them as an "act of war" and vowing to retaliate. Both sides have since been launching attacks on each other.
The current flashpoint started in April when 26 tourists in India-administered Kashmir were killed. But the region has been disputed for centuries, eventually leading to the current uneasy three-way administration.
How India-Pakistan tit-for-tat military clashes could unfold
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What is happening with the IPL and PSL?
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suspended the Indian Premier League (IPL) for at least a week as the conflict escalated.
On May 9, the BCCI released a statement saying: "While the BCCI reposes full faith in the strength and preparedness of our armed forces, the Board considered it prudent to act in the collective interest of all stakeholders. At this critical juncture, the BCCI stands firmly with the nation. We express our solidarity with the Government of India, the Armed Forces and the people of our country,"
The night before that statement, a clash between the Punjab Kings and the Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala had to be abandoned due to "a power outage in the area, [affecting] one of the light towers at the HPCA stadium," according to the IPL.
Announcing that the resumptions of the competition would take place on May 17, the BCCI reduced the venues from nine to six, with matches due to be played in Punjab, Chennai and Hyderabad moved to other venues. The final shifted to June 3, asf a number of international stars having had to leave the IPL before the tournamnet's new end due to international duties.
The IPL has become on of the world's most lucrative sports leagues, with plenty of foreign players present Image: Mahesh Kumar A./AP/picture alliance
Similary, there is also turmoil in the less-established Pakistan Super League (PSL) - which also resumed on May 17 in Pakistan. In suspending the PSL, the Pakistan Cricket Board initally decided to move the remaining eight matches of its tournament to the United Arab Emirates. That came amid claims from authorities that an Indian drone had fallen inside the complex of a stadium ahead of a PSL match. However, only a day later the decision was taken to suspend the competetion altogether.
"The PCB has always stood by the position that politics and sports need to be kept apart. However, in view of the extremely irresponsible and dangerous Indian act of targeting the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, which was manifestly done to disrupt the ongoing HBL Pakistan Super League X, the PCB has decided to shift the remaining matches to UAE so that the domestic as well as foreign cricketers, who are our precious guests, can be saved from the possible reckless targeting by India."
The PSL end came a week later than it was originally planned. The delays and uncertainty led to various international cricket boards with players competing in the PSL seeking to assist any of their players who were concerned for the safety, to leave the reigon. While some players from Pakistan played in early versions of the IPL, none has since 2008 while Indian players are prohibited from playing in any T20 leagues outside of India.
How has this affected cricket outside the IPL and PSL?
Relations between the countries mean the teams, whether men's or women's, do not face each other outside of global events organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC). These are usually short-format World Cups (Twenty20 or 50-over cricket). The last time the men's teams met in a Test match, the longer and more storied version of the game, was in 2007. Both the women's and the men's team have recently met in short-format global tournaments on neutral ground, the men in February and the women in 2024.
But the current conflict has had an impact on some players, at least in terms of their social media. Recently, India blocked the accounts of current stars Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan and retired players Shahid Afridi and Wasim Akram in India while the Instagram of Pakistan's ex-prime minister and cricket captain Imran Khan was also blocked.
Why India, Pakistan cricket matches are more than just sport
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It could also set back cricketing relations still further. India men's coach Gautam Gambhir, a former India player and former MP for Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party, said there "should not be anything between India and Pakistan" until the situation is resolved.
When are India and Pakistan next set to play each other?
Meetings are few and far between, with the next fixture in the men's game likely to be at the Twenty20 World Cup cohosted by champions India and Sri Lanka in 2026. The ICC has already ruled that games between the two sides should be held at neutral venues until at least 2027.
But Gambhir's statement will first be tested at the Women's 50-over World Cup this September, which will also be hosted by India. Pakistan have qualified for the tournament and the round robin system in the group stage means the countries will be slated to face each other, albeit on neutral ground. What happens to that match may provide a first indication of where cricket relations between the pair could be headed in the coming months and years.
Edited by: Chuck Penfold
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