No Security Clearance to Travel by Train-IPL 2025 Players Now to Travel by Bus from Pathankot

The IPL 2025 match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was abandoned on Thursday at Dharamsala after 10.1 overs of play. Following this, there were several reports mentioning that the players would be shifted to Delhi or other destinations via train from Pathankot. However, now there was a change in plan. Indian Railways have denied permission to the train trip due to security concerns. As an alternative, the players are now being brought by bus.

This was following the disruption of Thursday's game caused by India-Pakistan military tension. Following alleged drone attacks in Pakistan, some parts of power were disrupted across several areas nearby Dharamsala, namely Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur. One of the HPCA Stadium floodlights went out at around 9:30 pm, and very soon the playing field was temporarily darkened partially. Players as well as the umpires set off towards the dressing room with the remaining floodlights being cut off.

The officials responded quickly, ensuring the crowd vacated the stadium in an orderly manner. Officials from the region, as well as staff members of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), helped to end the situation. IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal was also seen walking along the boundary line, urging the crowd to vacate the stadium. Thankfully, the players and other personnel who worked for the games were evacuated from their hotels safely.

As India and Pakistan relations sour, the future of IPL 2025 hangs in balance. The match had to be abandoned due to heightened risk, and now the authorities await the summit meeting of top BCCI executives and the government to sit together and take a decision on how things go ahead from here. If the rest of the 12 league games and playoffs go on as scheduled or not, the decision still hangs in the air.

In the midst of all such concerns, security is always a top priority, and the decision to transport the players by bus rather than train is a precautionary step to ensure their safety. This was decided after Indian Railways guaranteed that it would not be able to give the necessary security clearance in the event of train movement considering the circumstances at hand. The deployment of buses seems to be the safest way to transport the players in a secure manner.

This change in plan also comes within the general backdrop of the military tensions that have increased between the two contiguous countries. Even though the IPL 2025 has been a gripping affair till now, safety of the players, staff, and viewers needs to be the top priority. The delay of the match was an apt demonstration of how circumstances may change very rapidly and how the authorities must take quick action in order to continue to ensure everyone's safety involved.

As developments progress, the BCCI and other authorities will monitor closely what is happening and take the requisite steps to accommodate the changed security situation. While the fans are eagerly awaiting the resumption of the tournament, the first and foremost priority will always be the safety of the players and the staff. The resumption of the IPL will depend on further developments and the advice of the government and security authorities.

While the tournament organizers wait for updates regarding the security situation, the IPL fan community prays that the rest of the season can go on uninterrupted. Nevertheless, it is clear that with the current situation, changes to the schedule and travel plans are unavoidable. The fans will have to wait patiently as things unfold.