The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has been suspended for a week amid rising cross-border tension between India and Pakistan. This decision was taken on Friday, May 9, less than 24 hours after the clash between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) was abandoned due to a power outage caused by a significant technical failure in the area, which resulted in one of the light towers switching off.
IPL chairman Arun Dhumal said that the situation between India and Pakistan will be assessed in the coming days, and a decision on the tournament’s future will be subsequently taken. Fans are speculating that the IPL might move out of India, with 16 games left to be played in the 18th edition.
Amid the speculations, a report from the popular English magazine The Cricketer mentioned that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has offered the BCCI to host the remaining 16 games in IPL 2025 in the United Kingdom.
Interestingly, former England captain Michael Vaughan had floated the same idea on his ‘X’ handle. “I wonder if it’s possible to finish the IPL in the UK .. We have all the venues, and the Indian players can then stay on for the Test series. Just a thought ?” he wrote.
PBKS, DC players travel in specially arranged Vande Bharat
It is interesting to note that the IPL has been played in only two countries apart from India. The 2009 edition of the cash-rich league was held in South Africa owing to it clashing with the multi-phase 2009 Indian general elections. UAE is another nation that has hosted IPL games in multiple years due to reasons like elections and the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the Punjab Kings versus Delhi Capitals clash was abandoned, the Lucknow Super Giants versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru encounter, which was scheduled to be held on Friday, has not suffered a similar fate. These two teams will lock horns when the 10-team tournament resumes.
