The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) got into action as soon as the Punjab Kings (PBKS) v. Delhi Capitals (DC) IPL 2025 match was called off at the HPCA stadium in Dharamshala.
The BCCI has arranged a Vande Bharat to get the players and support staff away from the city on priority. The nearest railway station is Una, and the two sets of players, support staff, and match officials are likely to take the train from there and head to Delhi.
The PBKS innings lasted 10.1 overs before the floodlights went off in the stadium, and later the crowd was asked to evacuate, and the players also left the stadium safely.
According to an official BCCI statement, the abandonment was due to a "significant technical failure" at the HPCA Stadium.
“The Punjab Kings v. Delhi Capitals match (Match #58) in Tata IPL was forced to be abandoned due to a significant technical failure at the HPCA stadium in Dharamshala. Due to a power outage in the area, one of the light towers at the HPCA Stadium malfunctioned. BCCI regrets the inconvenience caused to the in-stadium attendees,” the official statement read.
While initially it was thought to be a floodlight malfunction, it was soon confirmed to be a blackout due to security reasons following air raid alerts in nearby areas, which forced a blackout in the hill town.
After the floodlights went off, the players and officials were soon taken inside while IPL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal was caught asking the whole crowd to evacuate the venue immediately.
“Yes, the match has been called off as a precautionary step because there are some incidents that happened in Jammu, I believe. That’s what we got to know, so we thought it wise to call off the game," said Dhumal to IANS from Dharamshala.
Now Times of India has reported that BCCI has decided on a special train to get all the players of both Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, along with the match officials, support staff, and the broadcast crew, vice president Rajeev Shukla said on Thursday.
"We are organizing a special train from Una, which is not far from Dharamsala, to bring everybody home safely. As of now, the match has been called off and the stadium has been evacuated. We will take a call on the tournament's future depending on the situation tomorrow. As of now, players' safety is of utmost importance," TOI quoted Shukla as saying.
In an interview with India Today, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia gave an explanation for the match's cancellation. Saikia added that the BCCI is keeping a careful eye on the issue and will adjust its choices if necessary.
"The situation is not stable at the moment, and that is why we have cancelled today’s matc,— not just in Dharamsala, but also due to escalating tensions from the neighboring country. The safety of players, spectators, and support staff is our top priority. We will do everything that is in the best interest of the nations involved. We are closely monitoring the situation and will make further decisions accordingly," Saikia said.
