Following airstrike alerts in cities like Jammu and Pathankot on Thursday, the IPL match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was abruptly abandoned midway. The Dharamshala stadium was blacked out, and players along with all attendees were advised to evacuate immediately. This incident has sparked serious concerns over whether the entire Indian Premier League (IPL) season will be postponed or cancelled due to the ongoing military conflict between India and Pakistan.
A meeting was held after the match cancellation in Dharamshala, and a final decision on the league’s continuation is expected to be made today.
IPL chairman Arun Dhumal stated that they are awaiting government directions before making any official decisions. However, he confirmed that as of now, the match between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru scheduled for Friday will proceed as planned.
Speaking to PTI, Dhumal said, “We are currently reviewing the situation. It is a fluid situation, and no instructions have come from the government yet. Any decision will consider all logistical aspects.” When asked about Friday’s match in Lucknow, he responded, “Yes, it is still scheduled, but things are evolving rapidly. Any decision will prioritize the safety and interests of all stakeholders.”
After the abrupt cancellation in Dharamshala, players and staff from both teams were transported to Delhi via a special train from Pathankot, around 85 km away. The teams travelled to Pathankot by road. At the time of the disruption, Punjab Kings were batting at 122/1 in 10.1 overs. Initially, the interruption was blamed on floodlight issues, but later, airstrike warnings were cited. The match had already started late due to rain.
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Eventually, the entire stadium, with about 80% of its 23,000 capacity filled, was evacuated in a calm and orderly manner. A source from the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) told PTI, “There was no panic among spectators. Everyone, including players, was guided out safely and cautiously.”
As spectators exited, anti-Pakistan slogans were heard from some sections of the crowd. Prabhsimran Singh was batting on 50 off 28 balls, while his opening partner Priyansh Arya had scored 70 off 34 balls before getting out to pacer T. Natarajan. The game was stopped soon after.
Due to precautionary measures, airports in Dharamshala, Kangra, and Chandigarh were temporarily shut down. With Thursday night’s match now cancelled, uncertainty looms over the rest of the league. Sources suggest that some foreign players have expressed security concerns and may wish to return home.
Meanwhile, the Indian armed forces have conducted precision missile strikes on nine terror bases across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir, including camps of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke. These retaliatory strikes were in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people.
Thursday’s airstrike warnings also led to blackouts across multiple districts in Punjab, including Pathankot, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Mohali, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The IPL schedule has already been affected, with the May 11 match between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings being shifted from Dharamshala to Ahmedabad.