KEY POINTS
- The UAE Cricket Board has prioritized Pakistan’s PSL over India’s IPL
- BCCI’s attempt to relocate the IPL faces uncertainty
ISLAMABAD: The Emirate Cricket Board refused a request to a request to host the remaining matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 in Dubai as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) already booked the slots.
The setback comes amid India’s indefinite suspension of the IPL, a move that reflects not only internal disarray but also diminishing regional influence.
According to sources, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) has formally informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that Dubai — the preferred neutral venue — is unavailable due to a prior commitment with the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
The PSL’s 10th edition is now being relocated to the UAE, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirming that all remaining matches, including playoffs and the final, will be staged under the floodlights of Dubai.
The move follows heightened security concerns in Rawalpindi, prompting a last-minute shift of Match 27 between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings on May 8.
The UAE’s decision has reportedly left Indian cricket officials red-faced, as the BCCI scrambles to find alternative venues for a tournament already in disarray.
While the ECB has not entirely closed the door on India’s request, it has deferred any final decision — effectively putting the IPL in limbo.
Tentative reports suggest India may now attempt to revive the IPL in September, a timeline that risks a direct scheduling conflict with the Asia Cup 2025.
Such a clash would further strain regional cricketing ties and deepen India’s current crisis of sporting and diplomatic coordination.
With only four league matches and four knockout games left, PSL 10 moves forward with clarity and momentum — in sharp contrast to the uncertain fate of the IPL, now mired in geopolitical and logistical gridlock.
