With mounting tension along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan, several Australian cricketers participating in IPL 2025 are reportedly considering a premature exit due to safety concerns. The anxiety stems from escalated firing between the two nations on Thursday, which has raised alarm within the international cricket community.
According to player agents who spoke to the Sydney Morning Herald on the condition of anonymity, many Australian players are growing increasingly uneasy about their presence in the region. Among those currently playing in the IPL are high-profile names such as Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, and Mitchell Marsh. Adding to the concern, prominent Australian coaches Ricky Ponting and Brad Haddin are also currently in India and are said to be monitoring the situation closely.
Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association are maintaining open lines of communication with players and support staff, ensuring continued updates and psychological support as the conflict unfolds.
Outside the playing field, the popular Australian podcast duo Sam Perry and Ian Higgins, known for The Grade Cricketer, have called off their scheduled live performances in India. “We continue to closely monitor the situation in Pakistan and India, including obtaining regular advice and updates from the Australian Government, the PCB, BCCI and local government authorities and maintaining communication with our players and support staff currently in the region,” Cricket Australia said in a statement on Friday. Perry and Higgins are expected to fly out from Mumbai to Melbourne due to security concerns.
Meanwhile, the BCCI is actively discussing the possibility of postponing or relocating the IPL, with South Africa emerging as a potential alternative. As tensions escalate and with the Pakistan Super League already shifted to Dubai, the IPL’s future may hinge on how swiftly and decisively the BCCI acts.
