New Delhi [India]: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday announced the suspension of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), sources confirmed. The league, which was approaching its final stages with the grand finale scheduled for May 25, has been halted in the wake of heightened national security concerns.
The abrupt decision follows Thursday night’s disruption at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium, where the high-profile match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) was abruptly called off. Spectators were informed of the cancellation and instructed to leave the premises, while both teams were escorted back to their hotels under tight security.
Shortly afterward, the Punjab Kings posted on their official social media, “Match has been called off.” Outside the stadium, frustrated fans were seen chanting slogans like “Pakistan Murdabad,” reflecting public anger amid growing cross-border tensions.
The IPL suspension coincides with intensified conflict along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC), where the Indian Army successfully thwarted a series of Pakistani drone and artillery attacks between the nights of May 8 and May 9.
In a statement, the Indian Army said, “Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) were also recorded along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. All threats were effectively repulsed with strong countermeasures.”
Defence officials revealed that the indigenously developed Akash Surface-to-Air Missile System played a pivotal role in intercepting the drone threats. The missile system, jointly deployed by the Indian Army and Air Force, is now fully active along the Pakistan border.
“The ‘Made in India’ Akash system has been instrumental in foiling multiple Pakistani attempts to strike Indian military targets. It is deployed along vulnerable border areas and provides air defence coverage against diverse aerial threats,” said defence officials.
The Akash system is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile platform with state-of-the-art radar, real-time multi-sensor data processing, and command guidance. It allows for the simultaneous engagement of multiple aerial targets from any direction and can operate in both autonomous and networked configurations.
In a significant escalation earlier, Indian forces shot down over 50 Pakistani drones in a large-scale counter-drone operation conducted along the LoC and International Borders (IB). Sources also confirmed the neutralisation of a Pakistani air defence system in Lahore during the Indian retaliation on the night of May 7-8.
The suspension of the IPL marks a rare occurrence where national security priorities have overridden one of India’s most celebrated sporting events, underlining the gravity of the current situation.