Operation Sindoor Impact: Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians match cancelled

In the midst of tension between India and Pakistan, an IPL 2025 match, which was scheduled to be played in Dharamshala on May 11, is shifted to Ahmedabad. Punjab Kings now will have to face Mumbai Indians at Ahmedabad. Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) secretary Anil Patel confirmed the development to a news agency.

"Since the match had to be shifted at the last minute, the BCCI asked if we could host it, and we have formally informed them that we are ready," he said. 

In reply to the Pahalgam terrorist attack incident, where 25 Indian civilians had lost their lives, India air-struck the militant camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. As the situation is looking more critical than before, several airports in the northern regions are shut down for commercial services, including Dharamshala and other nearby airports. Following India's successful 'Operation Sindoor' on May 7 at midnight, several airports in North India, including Srinagar, Jammu, Chandigarh, Shimla, Amritsar, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Jamnagar, and Mundra, among others, were shut down for safety purposes.

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It'll be a challenge to relocate the teams 

For the scheduled fixture on May 11, team Mumbai Indians was about to leave the state on Wednesday, but the closure of the airports forced them to halt in Mumbai. On the other hand, Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals are currently in crucial positions. PBKS and Capitals are scheduled to face each other today (May 8) evening. After the event, the teams have to get out of Dharamshala. In normal conditions, when commercial flights are operational, it is easy to relocate or transfer a team, but now, many airports are not open for commercial flights. So, PBKS and DC may have to find an alternative way to travel to the north part of the country. 

One of the team officials said that they have to think about the comforts of the players well between two fixtures. It'll be a challenge for team officials as well because players may have to travel a lot more than usual.