'They will start in September...': Ex-Punjab Kings star passes big verdict on IPL 2025 future amid India-Pakistan border tensions

Former England batter Dawid Malan believes that the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 will resume in September if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are unable to start the marquee event in a week's time. The 18th edition of the cash-rich league was suspended for one week on Friday due to the rising tensions between India and Pakistan.

On May 9, BCCI officially stated that the country's national interest comes first, and the board does not see fit for the tournament to go ahead right now, considering the war-like situation on the borders.

The overseas players and staff of all ten teams of IPL 2025 have already started travelling back home. Malan reckons that if the BCCI are unable to resume IPL in a week in India or Sri Lanka, then only September's window can be utilised, considering India's upcoming five-Test match series against England which is scheduled to start from June 20, 2025.

“If it doesn’t happen in India or Sri Lanka in a week’s time like that, I suppose they will start in September. They got a massive Test series coming up against England in a few months’ time, and the IPL has to finish before that or start after that; logistically, it is quite a headache for the organisers," Dawid Malan said, speaking on Al Arabiya.

"I guess they have to wait and see how next week plays out in terms of the safety concerns of players and people of both countries,” he added.

Malan also said that the IPL 2025 has to resume in week's time and the only venues for the mega event are India, UAE, and Sri Lanka. He said South Africa cannot be considered because of the weather.

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The IPL was shifted to South Africa in 2009 owing to the general elections in India. The IPL was suspended midway in 2021 as well, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and the remainder of the tournament was then played in the UAE in September.

“It’s not the first time it has happened with the IPL, not in terms of severity, that has been going on between the two countries, but COVID hit back in 2020/2021, and they moved the IPL to the UAE midway through," said Malan.

"There are options they have played in South Africa before. Realistically, if they have to start in a week, they have to do it in India or the UAE. South Africa wouldn’t be an option, considering it will be winter there,” he added.

However, BCCI reportedly shortlisted Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad for the remainder of the tournament if the marquee event resumes in May.