With increasing tension between India and Pakistan as a result of a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL) ARUN DHUMAL explained where the priorities of the Indian cricket lie. In an exclusive interview with India todayDhumal reaffirmed that the cricket control in India (BCCI) is the nation in the first place – and the cricket decision is firmly connected with the government’s attitude.
Several former crickets, including the legendary Sunil Gavascar and Gautam Gambhir, demanded freezing cricket ties with Pakistan. Dhumal said that BCCI will continue to follow the government’s decision in terms of involvement in cricket activities with Pakistan.
India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral cricket since the 2012–13 season. They only met at tournaments organized by the International Criket Council (ICC) and the Asian cricket council (ACC).
However, Gavascar, he spoke India todaywent one step furtherthat says India should stop playing cricket with Pakistan even in Asia Cup and called for removal of Pakistan from a continental event scheduled for September 2025.
“Certainly there can be no other thinking. Whatever the decision is in the interests of our country, whatever decision is taken, BCCI is in solidarity. Whether it is instructed, it will be followed because nothing is more important than countries.
While the tension is cooking on the political front, the IPL is still growing, but Dhumal was honest about the league’s readiness in the case of unforeseen escalats. Asked about the emergency measures, IPL said: “The IPL Administration Council is watching the eye. A lot of speculative things are happening; we can’t do anything about it. But whenever time comes to make a decision where something needs to be done for the country’s interest, then BCCI will stand in the solidity of the country and government.”
Relations between two Asian neighbors dropped to a new minimum after attacking tourists from April 22. India accused Pakistan of involvement in a terrorist attack, but Islamabad denied the accusation and said he was fully ready to defend himself in the event of an attack. Pakistan performed two missile tests in three days while India revealed plans to exercise civil defense In several countries they cover 244 districts and include civilian participation in outages, air raid sirens, evacuation exercises and masking vital infrastructure.
94 matches in IPL by 2028?
Meanwhile, Dhumal expressed confidence that the future of IPL is on an ambitious track. Confirmed that BCCI looks at the expansion of the league to 94 matches format By 2028, reconciliation with the beginning of the next cycle of media rights. The plan, which would allow nine domestic and nine game games for each team, is in an active discussion, although the execution will depend on finding a suitable window in a crowded international calendar.
“As you know, after adding two or three new teams, we can now go up to 94 games so we can have nine houses and nine games for all teams. But as you know, there is a window for the bilatence because it doesn’t happen,” we would say, “Dhumal would say.
“But the tournament comes with a new force every year; if you look at the last seventeen editions and the eighteenth edition, we have seen huge growth every year, which benefits all parties involved – whether they are players, teams, transmitters, sponsors – all are beneficial.
“And when you see it, you can guess that every Member Board begins such a league – it is happening in England, Australia, South Africa and many other associated countries doing this and watching this model.
In addition to his commercial success, Dhumal said that IPL remains faithful to its basic philosophy: creating opportunities for young Indian talents. When he thought about the season 2025, he expressed its pride in the creation of new stars, including Vibhava Suryavanshi, Ayush Mhatre and Priyansh Arya.
“This is the IPL theme – that talent meets the opportunity. Our task is to give the opportunity to this talent, and every year we see that respect and honor that the new talent is from this platform – for itself, for the country and their team – today is commendable.
Published:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
6 May 2025
Tune
