- May 16, 2025
When cricket stops, the world pays attention. When it’s the Indian Premier League – the most glamorous and globally watched T20 festival – it’s an even bigger step up. But after a breathtaking mid-season break due to tensions between India and Pakistan – a retired Australian fast-bowler (presumably Mitchell Johnson by the sound of things) has again touched the raw nerve of contemplating scrapping the IPL – and now the Pakistan Super League too.
Are We Asking Too Much of the Players?
Let us be clear, cricket is a sport, not a war! And asking players to “return and resume” at a time when a literal military war has broken out in the middle of the cricket season is not only frightening but dangerously irresponsible. We had reports that IPL 2025 was suspended, citing attacks in areas near venues such as Pathankot and Jammu”. Not reassuring.
As soon as the news broke, most foreign players swiftly left India, and as the tournament is now targeting a new start date (May 17), the BCCI is asking players to return. Not to be overly optimistic, but Johnson (and many fans) may question the very rationality of returning to India, as his column reflects what many players are probably asking: is any tournament worth the stress of flying into a warzone?
Cricket boards have declared that players can make their own decisions (e.g., Australia, England), but applying that decision-making to individuals is fraught with issues. Saying “play if you feel safe” may feel liberating, but the external pressures of past play contracts (for players), criticism (for players and the boards), and future selection (players, boards) are weighty considerations.
Financial Fallout vs. Human Priorities
Let’s not start pretending that the IPL and PSL are only about sport. They are both billion-dollar businesses with advertisers, worldwide broadcasters, and reputations at stake. Cancelling or moving a tournament isn’t nearly as easy as cancelling a Sunday league match. But Johnson’s point is clear: safety first. If that means losing money, then so be it.
T20 leagues have faced difficult situations before. Consider the IPL and COVID, or the PSL relocation to the UAE in the past. But war and political instability? That’s a whole new category! Trying to continue to operate “business as usual” while this is going on is out of touch with reality, and that’s what Johnson is exposing.
Is It Time for a Rethink on Global T20 Leagues?
Beyond this season’s tensions, Johnson’s points point to the larger question: are the leagues simply too big to stop, even if they should? With a non-stop regime of cricket, non-stop travel, and in certain regions, growing security issues, is it time to really rethink how we get there?
There is no question that T20 leagues have a place in modern cricket, but the real world has a place within the game, and when crises intervene upon the party, cricket may need to change. Certainly, an early-scheduled return, after a ceasefire, is also understandable from a commercial perspective, but it could well be jeopardizing some of the very people who make a cricket league worthwhile.
While Johnson’s suggestion to “end it now” may sound theatrical, there is a brutal honesty in the moment of rising tension, uncomfortable players, and half-filled dugouts. While the IPL and PSL are cultural juggernauts, it may be reasonable for juggernauts to halt when the ground gets shaky.
While leagues proceed with the planned draws of strikes and reengaged stars, the important question remains: are we valuing spectacle more than we are sanity? And more importantly, should we be?
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