IPL: Overseas players ready to leave as BCCI puts off tournament for a week

The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) faces the major logistical challenge of flying overseas players, support staff and match officials home after the IPL (Indian Premier League) governing body council postponed the marquee event for ‘one week’ for now in the wake of the recent escalation in the India-Pakistan conflict.

The IPL governing council arrived at the decision on Friday afternoon after last night’s match at Dharamshala had to be called off midway owing to a technical snag affecting the floodlighting and a threat perception owing to the venue's proximity to the conflict zone.

Contrary to initial reports that the remaining 16 matches, including the play-offs and the final have been put off indefinitely, the official statement says: ‘’The BCCI has decided to suspend the remainder of the ongoing TATA IPL 2025 with immediate effect for one week. Further updates regarding the new schedule and venues of the tournament will be announced in due course after a comprehensive assessment of the situation in consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders.’’

As a result, this evening’s game between Lucknow Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Lucknow stands postponed too.

The news coming out of most franchises’ camps is that several overseas players and members of support staff have been jittery over recent developments and wanting to leave for home. ‘’They have started packing for home for the moment. We leave it to the discretion of the government and BCCI to decide on a possible resumption date,’’ one of the franchise owners said.

The IPL ecosystem brings in more than 200 foreigners to India every year, including players, support staff, officials, TV crew and pundits and cheerleaders. The professionals are from all major cricket-playing countries — barring Pakistan — and the  IPL logistics team and franchises are now working overtime to send them home.

As quoted in the press release, BCCI secretary Devojit Saikia said: ‘’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 Board salutes the bravery, courage, and selfless service of our armed forces, whose heroic efforts under Operation Sindoor continue to protect and inspire the nation as they lead a resolute response to the recent terrorist attack and the unwarranted aggression by Pakistan’s armed forces.

‘’While cricket remains a national passion, there is nothing greater than the nation and its sovereignty, integrity, and security of our country. The BCCI remains firmly committed to support all efforts that safeguard India and will always align its decisions in the best interest of the nation.’’

Incidentally, this is the third time that the money-spinning tournament has faced a postponement in its 18-year history, the previous two being during the pandemic. In 2020, the entire IPL was put off during the first Covid-19 wave, and played later in the year at the UAE behind closed doors, while in 2021, it had to be stopped midway after the second wave arrived. The second half of the IPL, along with the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in India, had to be relocated to the UAE again.