Operation Sindoor: Current season of Pakistan Super League to continue, says PCB amid rising tensions

The Indian Army responded to the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on 22 April with Operation Sindoor, a co-ordinated attack on nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in the wee hours of Wednesday. The Pakistan military has since retaliated with artillery firing at civilian areas in Poonch and other areas located close to the Line Of Control (LOC).

Tensions in the Indian subcontinent, which houses two nuclear powers, are at its highest since the Balakot Air Strike in 2019 that had India and Pakistan at the brink of war. The 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), however, will continue to take place with minor changes. As will the 10th season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) that is taking place simultaneously, as confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday.

“HBL Pakistan Super League X will continue as planned with Islamabad United set to take on Quetta Gladiators later today at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium," Arab News quoted an official statement from the PCB.

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Rawalpindi to host PSL match less than 24 hours after Indian Army’s strike

The 10th PSL season got underway on 11 April and is set to conclude less than two weeks from now, with the playoffs getting underway on 13 May and the final taking place on 18 May.

Defending champions Islamabad United, which had won their third PSL title last season, face current leaders Quetta Gladiators on Wednesday in Rawalpindi, the city where the headquarters of the Pakistan Army is located.

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The Mohsin Naqvi-led board added that the final league match will take place in Multan on 11 May, with Rawalpindi hosting the Eliminator two days later. Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will host the remaining playoffs, on 14, 16 and 18 May.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), meanwhile, has been advised to completely boycott the Pakistan Cricket Board.

While India and Pakistan have not played bilateral cricket in any format since the 2012-13 season, they might not be facing each other in ICC events as well as in the Asia Cup either in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack and recent military strikes from both sides of the border.