The IPL match between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians, scheduled for May 11 in Dharamsala, has been shifted to Ahmedabad owing to the closure of the hill town’s airport in the wake of military action against terror infrastructure in Pakistan.
Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) secretary Anil Patel confirmed the development to PTI. The game will be played in the afternoon.
“BCCI requested us and we accepted. are arriving later today and travel plans of will be known later,” said Patel.
Punjab Kings play in Dharamsala on Thursday.
The Dharamsala airport has been closed for commercial flights at least until May 10 in the wake of India’s military strikes on terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied and Kashmir in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
It remains to be seen how both Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals are ferried out of Dharamsala with the flight operations shut in the picturesque town. With airport also closed, teams need to find a way to get to Delhi.
Like Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals are also scheduled to play on May 11 when they face at home.
A Punjab Kings official said the BCCI is yet to inform the franchise on the venue change.
“We have not heard from the BCCI yet. We can only figure out the travel plans once we have full clarity.” Punjab Kings are on course to make their first play-offs since 2014.
In retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian armed forces early Wednesday carried out the missile strikes on the terror targets including Bahawalpur, a stronghold of the (JeM) terror group.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Wednesday that India decided to carry out the “proportionate” strikes to bring the perpetrators and planners of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack to justice as there was “no demonstrable step” from Pakistan to act against terrorist infrastructure on territories under its control.
