Sourav Ganguly Comments on IPL 2025 Suspension Amid India-Pakistan Tensions
IPL 2025 Suspension Announced
Kolkata: Sourav Ganguly, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, shared his views regarding the recent suspension of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). On Friday afternoon, the BCCI declared that the ongoing IPL 2025 would be suspended for one week due to rising tensions between India and Pakistan.
"Given the current war-like atmosphere in the country, the BCCI had no choice but to take this step, considering the presence of numerous Indian and international players. We hope the IPL resumes soon, especially with crucial matches approaching," Ganguly stated.
He emphasized the necessity of this decision, particularly for venues like Dharamshala, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Jaipur, which are integral to the IPL. "The situation that unfolded last night warranted this action. With time, conditions will improve, and matches will resume. The BCCI is committed to completing the IPL, and I believe this situation will resolve quickly, as Pakistan will struggle to maintain pressure for long," he added.
The match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamshala was halted midway through the first innings on Thursday. Spectators were informed of the cancellation and instructed to leave the venue, while both teams were escorted back to their accommodations.
Sanjay Sharma, a representative of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), remarked, "Due to the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the match between Punjab and Delhi was called off for security reasons. The HPCA, along with the Punjab Kings franchise and operational staff, had been in communication with the administration, which was fully aware of the potential for such an incident."
As per BCCI sources, the Indian board arranged a special Vande Bharat train to transport players from Delhi Capitals (DC), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and the entire broadcast crew from Dharamshala back to Delhi.