Special Correspondent
Dharamshala : Escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan have begun to disrupt major sporting events, with the Indian Premier League (IPL) being the first major casualty. The high-profile match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, scheduled to take place on Thursday at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, was officially cancelled due to heightened security concerns.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the development through an official post on its social media handles, citing the ongoing cross-border conflict as the reason behind the unprecedented decision.
In the wake of recent missile and drone strikes carried out by Pakistan on Indian border states, the security agencies flagged Dharamshala as a potential high-risk zone. Soon after loud explosions were reported in nearby regions, all floodlights at the stadium were abruptly turned off, and a full-scale evacuation was ordered. Spectators were asked to vacate the premises immediately, many of whom were seen chanting anti-Pakistan slogans like “Pakistan Murdabad” as they exited the stadium.
According to BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, “We are prioritising the safety of our players and support staff above everything else. A special train has been arranged to evacuate all team members and officials from Dharamshala. A final decision on the continuation of the IPL season will be taken tomorrow (Friday).”
Before the match was called off, Punjab Kings had scored 122 runs for the loss of one wicket in 10.1 overs. Young opener Priyansh Arya was the star of the brief innings, smashing 70 runs off just 44 balls. He was dismissed by T. Natarajan, caught by Madhav Tiwari. Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer were unbeaten at the crease when the match was halted.
Soon after the cancellation, the IPL Governing Council held an emergency virtual meeting to assess the situation. Sources say that several cities, including Delhi, Jaipur, Mohali, and Ahmedabad, have now been classified as ‘sensitive zones’ and may not be able to host upcoming fixtures if the security threat continues.
An all-party meeting has also been called by the Indian government in New Delhi to discuss the situation arising from Pakistan’s recent provocations and India’s military response under Operation Sindoor.
In light of India’s precision strikes on terror infrastructure across the border and the retaliatory shelling by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC), 27 airports across North India remain shut for civilian flights until May 10. Several international air corridors over Pakistan and India have also been temporarily suspended.
The government has also initiated mock civil defence drills and blackout exercises across several states as a precautionary measure. The situation remains fluid, and depending on how diplomatic and military developments unfold in the next 24 hours, the fate of the IPL 2025 season may hang in the balance.
