IPL Match in Dharamsala Canceled Amid Security Alerts: What's Next for the League?
Match Cancellation Due to Security Concerns
In Dharamsala, the IPL clash between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was abruptly halted on Thursday due to air raid warnings in nearby Jammu and Pathankot, raising concerns about the future of the tournament amidst escalating military tensions with Pakistan.
The Punjab Kings were at 122 runs for 1 wicket in 10.1 overs when the stadium experienced a blackout, initially thought to be caused by a failure of the floodlights. The match had already been delayed due to rain before the lights went out.
For safety reasons, both teams and the fans were evacuated from the venue. The stadium, which can hold around 23,000 spectators, was nearly full at the time of the incident, with about 80% of the seats occupied.
A source from the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association stated, "There was no panic among the crowd. The evacuation was conducted in a careful and safe manner."
As they exited, some spectators voiced anti-Pakistan sentiments. At the time of the interruption, Prabhsimran Singh was batting at 50 runs off 28 balls, while his partner Priyansh Arya had scored 70 runs off 34 balls before being dismissed by pacer T Natarajan.
The players and support staff from both teams will be transported to Delhi via a special train from Pathankot, located approximately 85 kilometers from Dharamsala. They will first travel by road to reach Pathankot.
Currently, the only airport in Dharamsala, along with those in Kangra and Chandigarh, is closed as a precaution against potential attacks from Pakistan.
With the cancellation of this match, the future of the IPL remains uncertain, and a meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is underway to address security issues raised by foreign players participating in the league.
Reports indicate that foreign players are eager to return home as soon as possible.
In response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack that resulted in 26 fatalities, India has conducted missile strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
On Thursday, a blackout was implemented across several districts, including Pathankot, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Mohali in Punjab, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, following air raid alerts and reports of explosion-like sounds in Jammu.
The IPL schedule has already been disrupted, with the May 11 match between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings relocated to Ahmedabad.