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"There are bombs coming": Aussie players stuck in IPL chaos
SEN • May 9th, 2025 10:20 am
A host of Australian cricketers are reportedly scrambling to get out of India amid rising tensions between the nation and Pakistan.
According to News Corp, Aussie players are trying to book flights out of the country with cricket bosses expected to suspend the IPL indefinitely due to mounting tensions between the countries.
A match between Ricky Ponting’s Punjab Kings’and Mitchell Starc’s Delhi Capitals was abandoned as power to the stadium was cut.
The electricity failure has been linked to the Pakistan conflict with players and fans were evacuated amid air raid alerts, according to local media reports.
Video from inside the stadium posted by a team cheerleader showed the moment floodlights were turned off.
"Everyone was screaming that there are bombs coming," she said.
"The whole stadium was evacuated, it was very scary. We want to get out of here I hope the IPL will look after us, this is very scary."
“We’re not sure where we’re going at the moment … there’s been some talk about Ahmedabad and some talk about Jaipur, but we’re only really worried about tonight’s match,” Ponting told News Corp.
“You know, there’s been a fair bit happening the last few days and we’re just trying to make sure we focus on our performance here.”
There are 15 Australians currently playing in the IPL.
"The entire league is at risk of being called off due to conflict with Pakistan," A BCCI official told local Indian media on the condition of anonymity.
Five Australians are currently playing in the Pakistan’s PSL competition.
David Warner, Max Bryant, Riley Meredith, Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis remain in the country where airspace is reportedly closed.
“There is no chance of the foreign players leaving the country anyway with airspace issues, but they are living under a heavy security blanket of Pakistan Army,’’ PCB spokesperson Amir Mir said.
“There have been surgical strikes on both sides of the border but we don’t expect that affecting the PSL. But if, God forbid, things do escalate, we will sit together to decide our next step.”
A formal decision on the IPL’s future is expected today (May 9).
