The ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan have increased after a gunmen’s attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. India launched unexpected strikes on several locations in Pakistan late last night, which led to a counter-attack from Pakistan.
The ongoing tension between the two countries has disrupted air traffic, causing problems for IPL teams. Eighteen airports along the India-Pakistan border have been closed. As a result, two IPL teams, Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, are facing challenges. Due to the closure of air services, their travel plans will need to change. These teams might have to travel by road instead of flying.
Dharamshala airport will remain closed until 5:30 am on May 10. Punjab Kings are playing their last three home matches in Dharamshala, and teams usually arrive by plane at this airport. Delhi Capitals are already in Dharamshala, and Mumbai Indians were supposed to arrive in two days. However, with the airport closure, their travel plans have been disrupted for now.
Delhi will head back to their home city after their match against Punjab on Thursday. Meanwhile, Mumbai will travel from their home city to Dharamsala. There’s a lot of uncertainty regarding how both teams will travel, as two nearby airports—Amritsar and Chandigarh—are also closed.
A board official shared with the media, “For now, we are waiting. With the closure of Chandigarh airport, we have no other option. Let’s see what happens. Both teams are already in Dharamsala, and Mumbai will arrive later. Right now, the only option is Delhi airport, but from there, we’ll need to travel by road for a long distance to reach Dharamsala. We are waiting for the government’s instructions.”
Neither Punjab nor Delhi have received instructions yet. However, Mumbai’s travel plans might change. It’s unclear if they have canceled their scheduled flights. If the airport remains closed, their tickets may need to be canceled.
