IPL re-start: BCCI instructs franchises to get players together by Tuesday
IPL 2025: Franchises instructed to arrange travel for foreign players as BCCI plans double headers in new schedule in hope to complete tournament by May 25.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has requested the IPL teams, except Punjab Kings, to report to their respective destinations by Tuesday. It is understood that the Indian board has orally communicated to the franchises that they are looking to bring forward a new schedule and restart the IPL soon. The BCCI has also communicated to the franchises to let their overseas players know about their travel arrangements.
Within hours of the IPL being suspended on Friday, the majority of overseas players and support staff departed for their home on the same day. The franchises are now making travel arrangements to send them back. It is known that the reason behind the BCCI requesting the franchises to submit their answers by Tuesday is, it wishes to finish the IPL according to the date that has been scheduled, which is May 25. Since there are 12 matches remaining, the BCCI is going to restart the league with double headers.
"All franchises have been instructed to let its team report to its respective destination by Tuesday. Punjab will have a neutral venue, so their destination is yet to be decided. The board is going to have more double headers so that they can complete the IPL according to its scheduled day," an Indian board source confirmed.
IPL chairman Arun Dhumal had informed this newspaper that they are considering the chance of resuming the suspended IPL 'at once' following India and Pakistan declaring a ceasefire on Saturday.
The Indian board had previously shortlisted Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad as the venues for the remaining IPL matches after the BCCI had suddenly suspended the IPL on Friday following the border tension between India and Pakistan. But the decision on the venues will be made after consulting the government.
On Thursday, the IPL match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala was postponed owing to security concerns. This followed the floodlights at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala being turned off. Dhumal had stated that the decision was taken as a precautionary measure.
