Australian cricketers are close to returning home, or heading to Dubai, with tensions between India and Pakistan rising, potentially leading to the postponement of the IPL.
Some players based in India could fly back to Australia as soon as Saturday to escape the increasing tension in the country.
The confusion around the immediate future of the tournament was highlighted overnight when Ricky Ponting's Punjab Kings game in Dharamsala was postponed due to a power outage, with the location of future matches still up in the air.
"I'm uncertain about our direction right now," Ponting responded when questioned regarding his squad’s upcoming strategies.
Some discussions have arisen regarding Ahmedabad and also concerning Jaipur, however, our primary concern is solely tonight’s game.
As you can tell, quite a lot has occurred over these past few days, but we’re really concentrating on keeping our focus sharp for the performance at hand.
Amid rising tensions and citing logistical difficulties, the league pointed out an issue on a particular day. Coach Ponting felt exasperated as a power outage halted the Kings' batsmen right when they were firing against Mitchell Starc and the remaining players from the Delhi Capitals team.
Punjab had smoothly reached 1-122 in only 10.1 overs when one of the lighting towers at the scenic stadium stopped working, leading to the match being abandoned, with each team receiving a single point.
Delhi was pleased with this outcome—but it was frustrating for Ponting, as he believed his team could have reached around 240 total following an impressive opening performance from his top batsmen.
After Priyansh Arya scored 70 runs and Prabhsimran Singh remained undefeated at 50, Starc struggled during his initial spell. He conceded five boundaries in two fruitless overs, finishing with figures of 0-23.
The absence of results kept the Kings, who included two out of their five Aussies—Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis—in third position with 15 points, leaving them well-placed as just four teams advance.
But what happens next for the Kings and the rest of the IPL program remains up in the air with the news from the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) that the next match planned to be played in Dharamsala on Sunday had been moved to Ahmedabad.
Airports in Dharamsala and Chandigarh — where the Kings are based — have been closed for civilian and commercial use since Wednesday, while others across India's north-western corridor are also out of bounds to the cricketers.
Three IPL franchises — Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Rajasthan Royals — are already out of finals contention so that would theoretically make it easier for players to get home.
Bowler Nathan Ellis can only participate in a single match for the Super Kings, whereas Pat Cummins, Travis Head, and Adam Zampa are part of the Hyderabad team.
However, title-contending sides like the Kings, along with Josh Hazlewood and Tim David’s Royal Challengers Bangalore, might hesitate before letting their crucial players leave.
Even though the circumstances were unpredictable, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated that the overseas athletes participating in the 10-team tournament felt no concerns regarding their continued participation.
Saikia stated, "They feel pretty at ease about it. Everybody in the league feels equally relaxed."
Ensuring the safety and security of each participant — whether they're a local or an international player — along with every match official and supporter is crucial to us.
We've obtained approval from all authorities involved.
Pakistan Super League shifts to UAE
In the meantime, the Pakistan Super League will shift the rest of its season’s games to the United Arab Emirates due to the continuing strain between Pakistan and India.
A game scheduled between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings in Rawalpindi was delayed following reports from Pakistan's military about Indian drones being shot down across several Pakistani cities.
A representative from the Pakistan Cricket Board informed the BBC that a drone malfunction resulted in an explosion on the street behind the stadium in Rawalpindi. However, the BBC has not been able to confirm these reports.
The precise timetable for the remainder of the competition, along with the specific dates and locations within the UAE, remains unconfirmed as of now.
Players from Australia who participate in the PSL consist of Matt Short, Ben Dwarshuis, Riley Meredith, David Warner, Ben McDermott, Ashton Turner, Mitchell Owen, Max Bryant, and Sean Abbott.
ABC/AAP
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