Cricket continues to take a backseat as Pakistan faces heightened military tensions with India, resulting in the postponement of multiple domestic tournaments, as announced by the PCB.
In the latest development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed the postponement of three domestic competitions – the President’s Trophy Grade-II, the Regional Intra-District Challenge Cup, and the Inter-District U19 One-Day tournament – amid escalating military tensions with India, as missile, drone and rocket exchanges threaten border regions of both countries.
"The Pakistan Cricket Board confirms that the ongoing President’s Trophy Grade-II, Regional Intra-District Challenge Cup, Inter-District U19 One-Day tournament have been postponed with immediate effect due to prevailing security condition in the country," read a PCB statement.
"The tournaments will resume from the same stage later, and a revised schedule will be shared closer to the resumption," it added.
PSL 2025 already put on hold
The decision comes a day after the PCB postponed the ongoing PSL 2025. Initially, the league was set to resume in the UAE from the rescheduled Karachi Kings-Peshawar Zalmi match in Rawalpindi. Reports had suggested that the UAE refused to host the remainder of the season. While the PCB did not explicitly confirm this, it cited the "worsening situation on the LOC" as the reason for putting the tenth edition of the tournament in limbo.
"So it ends, for now at least, with the lights literally going out on the biggest show in cricket."@Ben_Wisden on why the India-Pakistan conflict could determine the shape of cricket for years to come.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) May 9, 2025
Read here ➡️ https://t.co/aoZ45rcZLf pic.twitter.com/1H254ANQpm
Indian cricket also affected, IPL suspended for one week
Indian cricket has also faced disruptions due to the ongoing tensions. The IPL 2025 match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamshala was abandoned midway due to a 'technical failure'. IPL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal later confirmed this was a 'precautionary measure' following security concerns in Jammu. A day later, the tournament was postponed for a week. Additionally, the Bengal Pro T20 League, a state-based competition, was postponed.
On Saturday (May 10), both countries accused each other of escalating tensions. Pakistan launched 'Operation Bunyan Marsoos' in response to India's 'Operation Sindoor' - a counter-terrorism mission targeting alleged militant hideouts across the border. This came after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which India blamed on Pakistan-based elements, a claim Islamabad denied.
