Islamabad – 09 May, 2025: The United Arab Emirates has declined to host the remainder of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season in Dubai due to a prior agreement with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), creating uncertainty around the rescheduling of the popular tournament.
According to sources, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had approached the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to explore the possibility of holding the remaining IPL fixtures in the UAE.
However, the ECB informed the BCCI that the Dubai venue had already been reserved by the PCB for the concluding matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10.
Read More: Tottenham Set Up Europa League Final with United After Confident Win
The PCB had finalised its arrangements late on 8 May, officially announcing that the rest of the PSL — including the playoffs and the final — would be shifted to the UAE due to ongoing challenges in Pakistan.
The decision was made to ensure the smooth and safe completion of the tournament.
With the Dubai International Stadium now unavailable, the ECB has postponed any decision regarding hosting IPL matches in the UAE.
READ MORE: Pakistan-Bangladesh T20I Series Faces Uncertainty Amid PSL Reschedule
This development has left the BCCI exploring other options, including a potential September window, to finish the suspended tournament.
However, Indian media outlets have raised concerns that such a window could overlap with the Asia Cup 2025, further complicating scheduling logistics.
Read More: Betis Defeats Fiorentina to Reach First Major European Final
The PSL’s move to the UAE comes at a critical stage of the tournament, with only four league matches and four playoff fixtures remaining.
The PCB has assured fans that revised dates and venue details will be shared shortly.
Meanwhile, safety concerns have already impacted the PSL, with the 27th match — between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings — being rescheduled just hours before the toss in Rawalpindi.
Authorities cited security considerations as the reason, underlining the need for the UAE relocation.
