Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will hold an important meeting on Sunday to consider the resumption of the Indian Premier League’s 18th edition, suspended for a week on Friday, amid increased military hostilities between India and Pakistan.
Ceasefire Brings Temporary Relief
The summit follows a day after India agreed to a ceasefire offer proposed by Pakistan and brokered by the United States. The deal called for both countries to cease all military operations from 5 PM on Saturday onwards.
The war has halted. Under the new scenario BCCI office-bearers, officials and IPL Governing Council, will take up the issue tomorrow (Sunday) and take a decision. We will try to figure out which can be the best possible schedule to finish the tournament,” BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla told PTI.
BCCI Targets Speedy Resumption
Senior BCCI members such as secretary Devajit Saikia and president Roger Binny are the immediate ones to tackle the job of reviving the league by Thursday or Friday, that is, at the end of the suspension period. The truce first brought relief for both the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), who also suspended the Pakistan Super League on the same day.
Yet, new tensions arose after Pakistan allegedly breached the ceasefire within hours, raising questions about the durability of the truce. The latest hostilities cast doubt on whether the IPL can be resumed safely without further disruption.
Southern Venues Under Consideration
As a precaution against security threats, the BCCI had already considered relocating the balance of the matches to southern Indian cities such as Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad—territory deemed beyond reach of Pakistani military attacks, including shelling and drone assaults.
“That was a choice while there was war. There are several choices which have been mulled. The ceasefire has only been declared, give us some time, we will talk and then only a decision will be made,” Shukla said.
If the ceasefire is maintained, this contingency plan might not be required. Yet, with renewed hostilities, the BCCI might be forced to adopt this strategy to guarantee the season’s completion by the end of the month.
Double-Headers and Availability of Players Under the Spotlight
To make up for the delay, the BCCI can start double-headers to complete the 12 remaining league matches. The count does not include the Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match, which was abandoned midway in Dharamsala when hostilities rose.
A key challenge is still in the return of foreign players, some of whom departed India following the suspension. The board will also have to assure players and their respective boards of safety in the midst of continued geopolitical tensions.
Compounding the issue, some of the foreign players might look to rest after playing in the league for more than a month. Others might be out of action because of national duty, especially with Australia and South Africa set to clash in the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord’s on June 11.
