IPL Chairman Breaks Silence On Possibility Of T20 Tournament Being Called Off: "Situation Right Now..."
NDTV
The match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was cancelled midway following air raid alerts in Jammu and Pathankot, putting the entire league at risk of being called off.
The IPL jamboree was brought to a screeching halt in Dharamsala on Thursday by air raid alerts in neighbouring cities, forcing the league's administrators to pause and review the "evolving" and escalating military confrontation between India and Pakistan that threatens to derail the current season. The match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was cancelled midway following air raid alerts in Jammu and Pathankot, putting the entire league at risk of being called off.
"We are reviewing the situation right now. It is an evolving situation. We haven't received any directive from the government. Obviously the decision will be taken keeping all the logistics in mind," IPL chairman Arun Dhumal told PTI when asked whether the league will continue amid the conflict that started with a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22.
The Punjab side was 122 for 1 in 10.1 overs when lights went out in the quaint hill town, attributed to floodlight failure at first. The game had started later than scheduled due to rain before the city went dark for some time.
The teams and the assembled fans were eventually evacuated from the stadium for their security. The picturesque ground can accommodate approximately 23,000 spectators and it was packed to about 80 per cent of its capacity at the time of evacuation.
"Players of both the teams are safely back in the hotel from the stadium. There is no blackout here at the moment. Hotel is under heavy security and we are waiting for BCCI's decision," a Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association source told PTI.
Several people raised anti-Pakistan slogans while on their way out of the stadium. Prabhsimran Singh was batting at 50 off 28 balls while his opening partner Priyansh Arya made 70 off 34 balls before getting dismissed when proceedings came to a halt.
