Former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson has voiced strong concerns over the decision to resume IPL 2025, especially after it was suspended for a week due to escalating cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. With the tournament now set to continue from Saturday, May 17, Johnson has accused the BCCI of putting pressure on overseas players to return, prioritising the league over player safety.
In a scathing column for The West Australian, Johnson criticised the resumption of the league, which had seen foreign cricketers quickly leave India after the initial suspension. “If I had to make a call whether to head back to India and finish the tournament, it would be an easy decision. It’s a no from me. Lives and safety are the most important thing, not paying cheques,” he wrote. He stressed that such decisions should be left entirely to the players without any external pressure. “It’s a personal decision. No one should be coerced or feel pressured into going back, even if the IPL and Pakistan Super League, which have also been halted, push hard for it,” Mitchell Johnson added.
The decision to push the IPL final from May 25 to June 3 has also created scheduling conflicts for several national boards. The most pressing concern arises with the World Test Championship final, scheduled for June 11 at Lord’s between Australia and South Africa.
While Australia may breathe easier with only Pat Cummins and Travis Head set to return to the IPL, South Africa faces a more complicated situation. Several key players are caught between franchise commitments and national duty, placing the board in a difficult position.
As debates swirl around safety, ethics, and responsibility, Johnson’s remarks have added further weight to an already polarising decision.
