With IPL 2025 set to resume on May 17 following a military ceasefire between India and Pakistan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is actively working to ensure the return of overseas players. The BCCI has directed IPL COO Hemang Amin to directly engage with cricket boards such as Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to address safety concerns that may be holding players back.
The IPL had been paused on May 9 after escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, sparked by a terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22. However, after a ceasefire was agreed upon, the BCCI swiftly moved to finalize a revised schedule.
“We have been speaking to the foreign boards individually while teams are directly dealing with their players. We expect majority of them to return,” a BCCI official told PTI on Tuesday.
Franchise teams are now in communication with their foreign players, though some remain hesitant. Chennai Super Kings (CSK), whose next match is scheduled for May 20, have already begun outreach efforts. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan said, “The revised schedule was announced last night. We have just started contacting our foreign players over their availability… We have enough time.”
CSK’s international lineup includes Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, and Matheesha Pathirana.
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings may be without Australians Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis, though coach Ricky Ponting is trying to persuade them to return. Other players like Xavier Bartlett, Aaron Hardie, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Marco Jansen are likely to rejoin. Ponting demonstrated his commitment by canceling a return flight after the ceasefire news, while much of the team staff, including Brad Haddin and James Hopes, remained in India.
An IPL official highlighted the recent ordeal faced by players after an air raid alert halted a match in Dharamsala:
“The foreign players were scared at that time, and understandably so… Now the situation has got better, the players should return. However, some of them still remain on the edge.”
Sunrisers Hyderabad, though eliminated from playoff contention, expects Pat Cummins and Travis Head to return for their final league matches. Delhi Capitals, still chasing a playoff spot, have reached out to key players like Mitchell Starc and await confirmation.
The IPL 2025 final, originally planned for May 25, has now been rescheduled to June 3.