India suspends IPL for a week amid military tensions with Pakistan

India’s biggest domestic cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League (IPL), was suspended for one week following the increasing military tensions with Pakistan.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India said the Indian Premier League, which features top players from around the world and attracts hundreds of millions of TV viewers, was halted immediately.

“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,” the HCCI said.

The decision came after a night of artillery exchanges between Indian and Pakistani soldiers across their frontier in Kashmir, amid a growing military standoff that erupted following an attack on tourists in the India-controlled portion of the disputed region.

The IPL is the most popular cricket tournament in the world, running between March and May. This year, it has featured 65 international cricketers from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, England, and Afghanistan.

The 10-team competition still has 12 games to play in the group stage before the knockout rounds. The final was scheduled for May 25 in Kolkata.

The BCCI said the decision to suspend the tournament was made “in the collective interest of all stakeholders.”

“While cricket remains a national passion, there is nothing greater than the nation and its sovereignty, integrity, and security of our country,” the BCCI statement said.

The suspension came after the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala, which was abandoned when the power went out during a government-mandated blackout. Punjab’s next game against Mumbai Indians had already been moved to Mumbai because several airports had been closed.

Pakistan had earlier said it was moving its domestic T20 tournament, the Pakistan Super League, to the United Arab Emirates because of the tensions. Later, the Pakistan Cricket Board said that the PSL would be postponed but did not indicate whether this year’s edition would resume.

The PSL game also features several foreign cricketers from New Zealand, Australia, the West Indies, South Africa, and England who were due to compete.