Following the postponement of the IPL 2025 season for a week, most foreign players have returned to their home countries. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to temporarily suspend the tournament due to rising tensions between India and Pakistan. Earlier, the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamshala on Thursday was halted midway.
Players and Staff Heading Back to Their Hometowns
After the tournament was put on hold, players and support staff from various franchises began returning to their hometowns. Many foreign players also flew back to their respective countries. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) released a statement saying, “Our players and staff have safely reached Bengaluru and are now heading back to their respective cities and countries. We are grateful to the BCCI, local authorities, and police for their support.”
RCB’s foreign players include Tim David, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Phil Salt, Josh Hazlewood, Lungi Ngidi, and Nuwan Thushara. The international support staff includes head coach Andy Flower, bowling coach Adam Griffith, director of cricket operations Mo Bobat, team physio Evan Speechly, and analyst Freddie Wilde.
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Some Lucknow Players Choose to Stay Back for Now
An official from Lucknow Super Giants told news agency PTI that some of their foreign players left on Saturday, while a few others chose to stay back for some more time. Meanwhile, players from Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), both Indian and international, have departed for their respective destinations. According to sources, KKR players left from Hyderabad, where they were scheduled to play against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday.
After the IPL match was cancelled in Dharamshala, players from Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals reached Delhi on Friday. They were brought under heavy security from Hoshiarpur to Jalandhar railway station in separate batches and then transported to Delhi via a special Vande Bharat Express. A Punjab Kings source confirmed that most of their foreign players had already departed. Meanwhile, BCCI secretary Debajit Saikia said the revised schedule and venues will be announced after a thorough review of the situation.
