The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has expressed willingness to host the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in September, following the suspension of the world’s most lucrative T20 tournament amid escalating cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.
In a dramatic 24 hours, both the IPL and Pakistan Super League (PSL) were thrown into disarray. Fixtures were cancelled or abandoned, schedules torn up, and foreign players instructed to book flights home.
The IPL was paused after Thursday’s match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala was abandoned during the first innings. A military base in Pathankot—around 80km away—was targeted by what Indian officials described as “missiles and drones”. Floodlights were shut off and spectators evacuated, while players were rushed from the ground, some still in their playing gear. With Dharamsala airport among 27 closed across India, both teams had to remain in the city until Friday before travelling by train to Delhi.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has only confirmed a one-week suspension so far, but with 16 matches remaining and overseas players already leaving the country, the tournament's resumption remains uncertain.
The ECB chief executive Richard Gould contacted his BCCI counterpart to offer support. A senior ECB source reportedly confirmed that England could feasibly host the remaining matches in September. A similar proposal was made in 2021 when the IPL was interrupted by the Covid pandemic, though the UAE ultimately stepped in as host.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in a statement that “further updates regarding the new schedule and venues of the tournament will be announced in due course after a comprehensive assessment of the situation,” citing concerns raised by franchises, players, broadcasters, sponsors, and fans.
So far, 58 matches have been played in this year’s IPL, with 12 group games and four playoff fixtures still to be completed. The league has previously been relocated in part or whole on four occasions, including to South Africa in 2009 and the UAE in 2014, 2020, and 2021 due to either elections or pandemic-related restrictions.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) initially announced that the final eight PSL matches would be moved to the UAE, only for the Emirates Cricket Board to reportedly reconsider due to concerns over being seen as aligning with the PCB. The PSL was subsequently suspended.
Meanwhile, the PCB's attempt to relocate the PSL to the UAE was thwarted, with PTI reporting that the Emirates Cricket Board was reluctant to risk local harmony or its relationship with the BCCI by appearing to favour Pakistan. “Hosting a tournament like the PSL in the midst of such tense circumstances could vitiate harmony, pose security risks, and stir unnecessary friction between communities,” a source told PTI.
