The Pakistan Super League has followed the Indian Premier League in postponing its remaining fixtures as military hostilities continue to escalate between Pakistan and neighbouring India.
Tensions in the region have sharply escalated in recent days following Indian missile strikes that killed at least 26 people in disputed Kashmir last weekend, with both countries calling a halt to their prestige cricket tournaments.
As events unfolded this week, it became increasingly unlikely that the sport could continue, with overseas stars eager to get away and uncertainty over whether the games could be safely staged.
Australia’s highest-profile cricket stars began scrambling to fly out of India, with the IPL the first to be postponed due to the country’s escalating conflict with Pakistan.
The Pakistan Super League was initially moved to Dubai, with six Australians featuring in that competition, including David Warner, Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis.
Earlier in the day, IPL bosses met the morning after a match in Dharamsala was abandoned amid air raid warnings in the area, making the call to postpone the tournament.
Since then, several Australian players began moving towards airports, hoping to fly out over the weekend.
Others are facing logistical hurdles to leave the country due to airport closures, including bus rides of up to four hours before eight-hour train trips for some players.
The PSL had originally moved some of its teams and infrastructure to the United Arab Emirates in a bid to play the final eight matches of the competition on neutral soil, but that plan was shelved on Friday evening on advice from the Prime Minister’s office.
The IPL, one of the wealthiest leagues in all of sport, had earlier announced a one-week suspension.
Whether they are able to hold to that timeline in the present circumstances remains in doubt, with international players, including a contingent of Australians, trying to leave India as a matter of urgency.
There have been claims and counterclaims from the capitals of New Delhi and Islamabad, and deaths in both countries in a month of aggression.
A selection of high-profile Indian players have made statements honouring their military, and there were angry words from the Pakistan Cricket Board as it bowed to pressure and confirmed the indefinite postponement.
“The decision to postpone has been taken pursuant to advice received from the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif,” the PCB statement read.
“(He) has kept in view the reckless aggression from India that has escalated to a point where national attention and sentiments are rightly focused on the courageous efforts of the Armed Forces of Pakistan who are vociferously upholding the sovereignty of our beloved Pakistan.
“The PCB and its players stand resolutely in solidarity with the families of the martyrs and our security personnel defending the nation.
“Cricket, while being a unifying force and a source of joy, must take a respectful pause when the country is facing such callous opposition.
“We at the PCB also have sincere regard for the mental well-being of participating players and the sentiments of our foreign players, and we respect the concerns of their families who want to see them back home.”
The Board of Control for Cricket in India released its own statement on the events
“While the BCCI reposes full faith in the strength and preparedness of our armed forces, the board considered it prudent to act in the collective interest of all stakeholders. At this critical juncture, the BCCI stands firmly with the nation,” the BCCI said.
Josh Hazlewood. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
The call to suspend the IPL will leave a number of questions, including whether the lucrative league will be able to restart this year.
Some 12 games remain in the competition, along with a four-game finals series.
Questions will also linger over the ramifications regarding player payments, given all teams have up to two matches left to play out.
Some Australian players were understood to be keen to exit the country, but were also concerned about what it could mean for future chances if they did quit the league.
Test captain Pat Cummins, fellow quicks Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, and star batter Travis Head are among the Australians featuring in the tournament.
For them, the postponement will mean unexpected time at home before next month’s World Test Championship final in England and a subsequent tour of the West Indies.
The possibility of needing to postpone the tournament was made clear when air-raid warnings prompted the Ricky Ponting-coached Punjab Kings’ match against Starc’s Delhi side to be abandoned on Thursday night as the stadium was evacuated.
Airports in Dharamsala and Chandigarh – where the Kings are based – have been closed for civilian and commercial use since Wednesday, while others across India’s northwestern corridor are also out of bounds to the cricketers.
Three IPL franchises – Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Rajasthan Royals – are already out of finals contention.
Cricket Australia has been across the situation in India and Pakistan since 26 people were killed and 17 injured in an attack in the Kashmir region late last month.
“We continue to closely monitor the situation in Pakistan and India, including obtaining regular advice and updates from the Australian government, the PCB, BCCI and local government authorities, and maintaining communication with our players and support staff currently in the region,” a CA spokesperson said.
Despite the volatility of the situation, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia insisted foreign players in the IPL had no concerns about continuing to play.
“They are quite comfortable. Everyone in the league is comfortable,” Saikia said.
But IPL chairman Arun Dhumal raised the prospect of halting the tournament.
“It is on as of now, but obviously it is an evolving situation and any decision will be taken keeping the best interest of all stakeholders in mind,” Dhumal told PTI.
Ponting’s soaring Punjab Kings have been left in the dark about what happens next in their IPL adventure after a floodlight failure rudely interrupted their fine day’s work in Dharamsala.
On a day when the League cited logistical challenges amid increasing tensions between neighbouring India and Pakistan, coach Ponting was left frustrated on Thursday when a power failure stopped the Kings’ batters just when they were fully charged against Starc and the rest of Delhi Capitals’ ragged attack.
Punjab had cruised ominously to 1-122 in just 10.1 overs when one of the light towers at the picturesque stadium malfunctioned during the outage and the game had to be called off, with both sides getting a point each.
But what happens next for the Kings and the rest of the IPL program remains up in the air with the news from the Indian cricket board (BCCI) that the next match planned to be played in Dharamsala on Sunday had been moved to Ahmedabad because of the India-Pakistan conflict.
Asked about the Kings’ plans during the match on Thursday, Ponting shrugged: “We’re not sure where we’re going at the moment … there’s been some talk about Ahmedabad and some talk about Jaipur, but we’re only really worried about tonight’s match.
“You know, there’s been a fair bit happening the last few days and we’re just trying to make sure we focus on our performance here.”
with AAP
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