DHARAMSALA: The 58th match of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), featuring Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, was abandoned midway due to security concerns, as reported by Hindustan Times. The fixture was halted on Thursday after only 10.1 overs had been completed.
However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued a statement attributing the abandonment to a major technical failure at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.
“The Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match (Match No. 58) in the Tata IPL was abandoned due to a significant technical issue at the HPCA stadium,” the statement read.
“A power outage in the surrounding area led to one of the stadium’s floodlight towers malfunctioning. The BCCI apologises for the inconvenience caused to fans in attendance.”
The official broadcasters initially reported that the game was interrupted due to a floodlight failure.
Nevertheless, Hindustan Times claimed that IPL authorities had actually requested the evacuation of the stadium, citing security concerns.
Security concerns
Additionally, PTI sources indicated that the dimming of the floodlights during the Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals encounter may have been a deliberate measure taken for security purposes.
Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) postponed the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 match between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
These tensions intensified following an attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), further straining already delicate bilateral relations.
On Wednesday morning, India reportedly launched a “cowardly” missile strike into Pakistani territory, firing from across the Line of Control, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The Director General of ISPR confirmed that missiles had struck areas including Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Ahmedpur Sharqia, Bagh, and Muridke. In response, Pakistan’s armed forces swiftly acted to intercept the threat, successfully preventing Indian aircraft from entering Pakistani airspace.
In retaliation, Pakistan’s military claimed to have shot down five Indian aircraft and destroyed a brigade headquarters across the border, as per ISPR.
