How IPL could get back on track otherwise risks losing insurance claim

The BCCI announced Friday that the Indian Premier League has been suspended for a week amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. However, there is a possibility the tournament could be moved to Kolkata or abroad even as the Indian cricket board could lose out on insurance claims if the remaining matches are cancelled due to the conflict. The decision to suspend the IPL followed a meeting of the IPL Governing Council of the BCCI, taken in consultation with the Indian government. As per the original schedule, there are 16 matches pending in the tournament. In a statement issued on Friday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced the suspension of the tournament for a week. “Further updates regarding the new schedule and venues will be announced in due course after a comprehensive assessment of the situation in consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders.“The decision was taken by the IPL Governing Council after due consultation with all key stakeholders, including most franchisees who conveyed the concerns and sentiments of their players, as well as the views of the broadcaster, sponsors, and fans.While the BCCI reposes full faith in the strength and preparedness of our armed forces, the Board considered it prudent to act in the collective interest of all stakeholders,” the statement said. mediumhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s1f5_s8JIgUnclear if tournament will resume after a weekAt this point, it is unclear whether the tournament will resume in India or abroad.“Give the BCCI some time to decide,” said a top board official. “The easier option was to cancel or indefinitely postpone the IPL, but the BCCI, in consultation with the government, has taken a bold stand to resume the league soon.“Cancelling or delaying it indefinitely would’ve sent the wrong signal — that we are intimidated by the enemy and unsure of our own security capabilities,” the official said. 121056732In a strongly-worded statement, the BCCI said: “At this critical juncture, the BCCI stands firmly with the nation. We express our solidarity with the Government of India, the Armed Forces, and the people of our country.“The Board salutes the bravery, courage, and selfless service of our armed forces, whose heroic efforts under Operation Sindoor continue to protect and inspire the nation, as they lead a resolute response to the recent terrorist attacks and the unwarranted aggression by Pakistan’s armed forces.“While cricket remains a national passion, there is nothing greater than the Nation — its sovereignty, integrity, and security. The BCCI remains fully committed to supporting all efforts that safeguard India and will always align its decisions with the best interests of the nation.”Foreign players prepare to leaveMany foreign players in the league were uneasy over developments since Wednesday night, which saw Pakistan attacking areas close to the border. These players have expressed a desire to return home. The vulnerability of the tournament became clear when the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala was abandoned midway for security reasons.The players, support staff of both teams and the broadcast crew were evacuated from Dharamshala with “utmost secrecy” in a Vande Bharat train to Delhi as the local airport remained closed for civilian flights. Thank you, @RailMinIndia , for arranging a special Vande Bharat train on such short notice to ferry the players, support staff, commentators, production crew members, and operations staff to New Delhi.

We deeply appreciate your swift response. &#55357;&#56908;&#55356;&#57341; @AshwiniVaishnaw | @JayShah |… pic.twitter.com/tUwzc5nGWD

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 9, 2025 The IPL franchises, for now, are hoping the BCCI could get the go-ahead for the remainder of the tournament in a week. The availability of the foreign players will then depend on whether they want to come back to India, given the current situation.The alternate options being consideredTOI has learnt that the board is contemplating venues in the eastern and southern parts of India if it becomes possible to resume the league in a week. “A week is a long time when it comes to such matters. The board is chalking out a contingency plan. But the initial feelers are that BCCI is considering the rest of the IPL matches in cities like Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru if the league resumes next week. If things de-escalate at the border, the board may also retain all the original venues,” a BCCI source told TOI.However, the board has to factor in how much security the forces can deploy for matches in such circumstances. Across the border, Pakistan’s cricket board postponed the Pakistan Super League due to the conflict and said the remainder of the tournament will be played in the UAE. However, PTI reported that it was unlikely that the UAE cricket board would permit the tournament to be held there. 121056761One option is the window after India’s Test tour of England, which ends in the first week of August. However, this could pose a serious challenge to India holding the Asia Cup in September, which is supposed to see Pakistan’s participation. TOI understands that the future of the Asia Cup presently looks bleak, as well as Team India’s scheduled white-ball tour of Bangladesh.“There are doubts over the tour of Bangladesh due to the persisting communal unrest in the country. BCCI will wait for the government’s nod before sending its teams to Bangladesh. The Asia Cup is losing its relevance anyway. India is supposed to host the Asia Cup this year. BCCI will have to seek the government’s approval before inviting Pakistan,” the source said.There is the possibility of the Asia Cup being scrapped and the remainder of the IPL played in that window — the second half of September. BCCI will have to check the availability of senior international players across the globe. The Caribbean Premier League ends in the third week of September.Will the BCCI lose insurance claims if IPL isn’t completed due to conflict?The suspension of IPL — India’s most heavily insured sporting event — brought renewed scrutiny to the utility and limits of event insurance amid geopolitical tensions.Howden, the insurance broker to the BCCI, acknowledged the suspension and said it would wait for an official decision on cancellation or rescheduling. “Match cancellations are complex and dynamic, and speculating is not in the best interest,” the firm said.IPL 2025 already saw a sharp rise in premiums following Rs 50 crore in weather-related claims last season.While such insurance policies typically cover cancellation, adverse weather, unrest, and injuries, they are triggered only by outright cancellation or abandonment, not temporary suspensions — leaving policyholders exposed to short term halts. medium121037940“For a claim to be triggered, the event should either get cancelled or abandoned. Currently, IPL has been suspended for a week owing to the current situation at the border. The organiser can always commence the event at a later stage once things normalise. A similar situation happened during Covid 2021, wherein IPL was suspended, and after a few months, it commenced and successfully concluded,” said Amit Agarwal, CEO of Howden Broking.The pressing question is whether insurers may treat the disruption as a war event. Most policies, except marine cargo, exclude war-related risks as they fall under force majeure — events deemed uninsurable. If applied, even routine claims - such as for travel cancellations during the tournament - could be denied. “Event cancellations in the current scenario should be treated as insured events until declared otherwise. Coverage can be broad on paper, including cancellations and suspensions,” said Anup Dhingra, MD, FINPRO, IMEA.Rushik Patel of Edme Insurance Brokers said the key complication lies in the vagueness of war clauses.Reporting by Gaurav Gupta, Arani Basu and Mayur Shetty