BCCI orders IPL teams to regroup at home grounds by May 13: Report

Pic: PTI

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is determined to conclude the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 within the originally designated window.

As reported by The Indian Express, the governing body has instructed all franchises, except Punjab Kings, to ensure their players assemble at their respective home venues by May 13.

In a move to accelerate preparations for the league's resumption, the BCCI has also verbally notified all 10 franchises that a revised IPL schedule will be released shortly. The board expects players to be match-ready in anticipation of the league's restart.

However, the availability of foreign players remains a significant concern. Following the suspension of the IPL on Friday due to escalating tensions, a large number of overseas players departed India the same evening, creating uncertainty around their return.

The report further revealed that the BCCI has asked each franchise to keep the board informed about the travel plans and availability of their overseas contingent. As a result, several teams are now coordinating special arrangements to facilitate the return of their international players to India in time for the restart.

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings find themselves in a unique situation. With ongoing uncertainties surrounding the safety and logistical viability of their home venues, Chandigarh and Dharamsala, the franchise is likely to be assigned a neutral venue for the remainder of the tournament. A final decision on their base location is still pending.

"All franchises have been told to inform its team to report to their respective destination by Tuesday. Punjab will have a neutral venue, so their destination is yet to be confirmed. The board is planning to have more double headers so that they can finish the IPL as per its scheduled day," a source from the BCCI told the national daily.

Additionally, the report notes that the board is planning to resume the IPL on May 16, with matches hosted across three key venues: Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. The updated schedule, covering the remaining 16 fixtures, including 12 league matches and four playoff games, is expected to be made public on Sunday night.

Despite concerns raised by several franchises regarding the availability of their overseas players, the BCCI appears intent on sticking as closely as possible to the original timeline. However, there is a strong possibility that the IPL final, initially slated for May 25, may be pushed back by a few days to May 30 to accommodate the compressed schedule.