Given the ongoing conflict at the border between India and Pakistan, the BCCI called off the PBKS vs DC clash at Dharamsala on Thursday. The match was suspended at the halfway mark of the first innings, with the floodlights turned off. Fans were soon asked to evacuate the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, with BCCI and IPL GC expressing security concerns.
Spectators are seen evacuating the HPCA stadium after the Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala.
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HPCA Stadium evacuated after PBKS vs DC called off
The match in Dharmsala was always under a security cloud given the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. The May 11 game was relocated, but Thursday’s game was given go go-ahead. Punjab Kings batted first after a rain delay. However, at the half way mark, the floodlights at the HPCA Stadium were turned off due to malfunction.
Soon, the match was called off. With the India-Pakistan border conflict escalating, IPL and stadium officials were seen asking the fans to evacuate the stadium. IPL chairman Arun Dhumal himself was at the front, with the fans queueing in numbers to leave the HPCA Stadium. While there was no announcement made in the stadium, local police and officials were on the scene, making a slow evacuation.
As per Cricbuzz, the teams and the players were escorted back to the hotel in buses. The families of players were evacuated within 10 minutes. Dharamsala is just 60 km away from the Indo-Pak border, while 200 km away from Jammu, where reports of a drone attack by Pakistan were underway.
The BCCI meanwhile stuck to their story of a technical failure, issuing a statement.
“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,” an official statement said.
The Indian cricket board, however, is making arrangements to evacuate players, teams, officials and broadcast crew from Dharamsala. A special train accommodating all parties is likely to depart tomorrow morning, with the safety of everyone paramount for BCCI. A decision on the tournament’s continuation will also be taken tommorow.
“We are organising a special train from close to 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 utmost important. The match couldn’t have continued tonight because of the situation. It wasn’t safe,” says BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla to Times of India
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