The BCCI has suspended the Indian Premier League for a week due to increasing conflicts and border tensions between India and Pakistan. With 16 games remaining and an upcoming tight schedule for the Indian team, the BCCI is currently waiting for the conditions to get better.
BCCI is hopeful, or perhaps quietly confident, that the border tensions, which led to the suspension, might ease in the near future. In any case, it reflects a positive outlook. The board plans to complete the remaining 16 matches within a tight 12-day window, with its focus firmly on the current month. However, if tensions do not ease soon, the situation could lead to unexpected disruption of the event.
Amongst such concerns, BCCI has received a relief as ECB-England and Wales Cricket Board has offered to help BCCI as potential host for the final stage of the tournament. However, the Board will seek to finish the tournament in India itself.
“Further updates regarding the new schedule and venues of the tournament will be announced in due course after a comprehensive assessment of the situation in consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders,” Devajit Saikia, the BCCI secretary, said in a statement, adding the decision had been taken “following the representations from most of the franchisees, who conveyed the concern and sentiments of their players, and also the views of the broadcaster, sponsors and fans”.
England could be a different kind of challenge to plan, but it might be easier for the Indian players, since they are already set to go there for a five-Test series in June. Also, players from Australia and South Africa will go to England for the World Test Championship final, which will be played from June 11 to 15. The idea of moving the tournament is not new, and it has been done earlier during the times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The league was shifted to the UAE in 2020 and 2021. Besides this, it was played on the grounds of South Africa to avoid clashes with the general elections.
