New Zealand cricket players in India and Pakistan are in the process of leaving as tensions between the two countries continue to grow.
It comes after a night of artillery exchanges between Indian and Pakistani soldiers across their frontier in Kashmir, amid a growing military standoff that erupted following an attack on tourists in the India-controlled portion of the disputed region.
More than a dozen Kiwi internationals are playing their trade as professional players in the two leagues, including former skipper Kane Williamson.
In an update this morning, NZ Cricket said all New Zealanders involved in Pakistan’s PSL, including players, coaches, support staff, and commentators, have left Pakistan for Dubai.
All New Zealanders involved in India’s IPL have either left the country or are in the process of leaving as flights become available.
The men’s New Zealand A team, currently in Bangladesh, would remain there with its schedule unchanged.
“Security assessments remain ongoing, and current advice is supportive of the status quo.”
IPL suspended
India’s biggest domestic cricket tournament was suspended for one week on Friday following the escalating military tensions with Pakistan.
The Indian Premier League, which features top players from around the world and attracts hundreds of millions of TV viewers, was halted with immediate effect, the Board of Control for Cricket in India said.
“Further updates regarding the new schedule and venues of the tournament will be announced in due course after a comprehensive assessment of the situation in consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders,” the BCCI said in a statement.
The IPL is the most popular cricket tournament in the world and runs between March and May. This year it has featured 65 international cricketers from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, England and Afghanistan.
The 10-team competition still has 12 games to be played in the group stage before the knockout rounds. The final had been scheduled for May 25 in Kolkata.
The BCCI said the decision to suspend the tournament was made “in the collective interest of all stakeholders”.
“While cricket remains a national passion, there is nothing greater than the Nation and its sovereignty, integrity, and security of our country,” the BCCI statement said.
The suspension comes after the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala in northern India was abandoned on Thursday evening when the power went out during a government mandated blackout. Punjab’s next game against Mumbai Indians had already been moved from Dharamsala to Mumbai because of the closure of several airports in the Indian northwestern corridor.
Pakistan postpones PSL
The Pakistan Cricket Board also postponed its Pakistan Super League.
“Cricket, while being a unifying force and a source of joy, must take a respectful pause,” the PCB said in a statement.
The PCB said it acted on advice from Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The PCB had earlier confirmed the relocation of eight remaining PSL matches to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, citing growing concerns among overseas players and the need to prioritise their safety.
But the latest announcement said the PSL was being postponed and gave no indication whether this year’s edition would resume at some point.
Rawalpindi, Multan and Lahore had been scheduled to host the remaining PSL games.
On Thursday, an Indian drone fell inside the complex of the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium hours before the start of a PSL game in which several cricketers from New Zealand, Australia, West Indies, South Africa and England were due to compete.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also interior minister in the Pakistan government, held meetings with foreign cricketers and six franchise owners of the PSL before initially saying the tournament was being moved to Dubai.
England cricketer Sam Billings, New Zealand’s Colin Munro, South African Rilee Rossouw and Jason Holder of West Indies were among 43 foreign cricketers competing in the PSL.
“We have sincere regard for the mental well-being of participating players and the sentiments of our foreign players, and we respect the concerns of their families who want to see them back home,” the PCB said.
The PSL, in its 10th edition, started in the UAE in 2016. UAE hosted the first two editions of the PSL, except for the final in 2017, and also some of the games in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Munro’s Islamabad United is the defending champion in the six-team league. Rossouw’s Quetta Gladiators leads the points table and has already qualified for the playoff stage while Multan Sultans, led by Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan, was eliminated after losing eight of its nine league games.
The three other teams are Peshawar Zalmi, captained by Babar Azam; Karachi Kings, skippered by Australian David Warner, and Lahore Qalandars.
New Zealand players in India and Pakistan
IPL: (India) Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Trent Boult, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner.
PSL: (Pakistan) Kyle Jamieson, Michael Bracewell, Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Tim Seifert, Kane Williamson, Colin Munro.
– Additional reporting by 1News