IPL Set to Resume Amidst India-Pakistan Tensions

Resumption of IPL Following Ceasefire Announcement

The Indian Premier League (IPL), which was temporarily halted due to the military tensions between India and Pakistan, is expected to restart on either May 16 or 17. There is a possibility that the final match may be relocated from Kolkata.

The ceasefire declared on Saturday has cleared the way for the league's return, which was suspended on May 9 for a week.

On Sunday, members of the IPL Governing Council and officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) convened to discuss plans for resuming the tournament.

Rajeev Shukla, the BCCI vice-president, mentioned that the board is in the process of finalizing a suitable schedule.

Shukla stated, 'Currently, no final decision has been made regarding the IPL. BCCI officials are exploring various options. The BCCI secretary and IPL Chairman are in discussions with franchises, and we will soon have an update on the situation as efforts are underway to restart the tournament promptly.'

According to an IPL insider, the league will kick off again with the match between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Lucknow, which was originally scheduled for May 9.

'All teams have been instructed to bring back their players, and the tournament is set to resume on either May 16 or 17 in Lucknow. The finalized schedule will be announced tomorrow (Monday),' the source revealed.

'It is likely that matches will take place at four venues, and Delhi and Dharamsala will not host additional games. All equipment has already been removed from these locations,' the insider added.

The source also indicated that there would be no changes to the venues for Qualifier I and the Eliminator, which Hyderabad was set to host, but Kolkata might not host the final, likely scheduled for June 1, due to anticipated rain.

'Currently, there are no alterations to the playoff venues, but rain could impact the final in Kolkata. If that happens, the final may be moved to Ahmedabad,' the source explained.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated, 'In the coming days, we will initiate discussions with franchises, broadcasters, sponsors, and state associations responsible for hosting the remaining matches before making a definitive decision on the league's resumption.'

'Given the significance of the IPL at this time, it is also essential to secure approval from the Government of India before finalizing the restart schedule.'

Points Awarded for Abandoned Match

Regarding the abandoned match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC), it is likely that both teams will receive one point each. The game was halted in Dharamsala when Punjab Kings had scored 122 runs for 1 wicket in just 10.1 overs due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

Players were transported by bus to Jalandhar in Punjab, from where they continued their journey to Delhi by train.

If only four venues are selected to host the remaining 16 matches, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, and Mumbai Indians will miss out on their home games.

This means that the remainder of the tournament will be limited to Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Lucknow.

With CSK, RR, and SRH already out of contention, the race for the four playoff spots is now between seven teams.

Currently, Gujarat Titans lead the table with 16 points and a net run rate (NRR) of 0.793, followed closely by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (16 points, 0.482), Punjab Kings (15), Mumbai Indians (14), Delhi Capitals (13), Kolkata Knight Riders (11), and Lucknow Super Giants (10).