The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) has been temporarily held for a week due to rising tensions between India and Pakistan, which led to the sudden abandonment of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) vs. Delhi Capitals (DC) match in Dharamsala on May 9. Both countries' abnormally high geopolitical rise led to the decision to abandon the game due to serious concerns for player safety.  The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) now has to look at alternative venues for where they are going to play the remaining matches of the season. 

The BCCI is looking at cities in India that they deem safe and can logistically figure out a way to complete the remaining matches of the IPL. Cities being looked at are Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. All four have had great cricket match infrastructure in the past and have hosted international cricket events too. A source stated that the board did not want to stop the IPL but wanted to get contingency plans A, B, and C in place so they could finish the IPL this year. The board can return to its original venues if the geopolitical situations improve.

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Along with domestic options, the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) made an offer to host the remainder of the IPL matches in the UK. The government of the UK opened up the channels after India announced its England tour, and the ECB offered any assistance it could. The offer drew some attention and warranted consideration for several reasons, namely that India has a five-match Test series in England starting June 20, and former England captain Michael Vaughan suggested that the UK would be a neutral ground that could offer safety for the remainder of the tournament.

Challenges of Shifting the IPL Abroad

However, hosting the IPL abroad would pose significant logistical challenges. The tight schedule, with the monsoon season approaching in India and the Asia Cup looming, adds pressure to the feasibility of this option. Additionally, the proximity of the IPL to India's England tour may complicate scheduling.

BCCI is presently weighing all options; the safety of the players and logistics are continuing to be the predominant considerations. It wants to recap all 12 league matches and finish the four playoff matches as soon as possible. The next few days are most important as BCCI develops its plans, which eventually will be either completed in India or moved to the UK, depending on how this situation unfolds.