NEW DELHI, May 9, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The Indian Premier League has been suspended indefinitely because of the heightened border tensions between New Delhi and Pakistan, Indian media reported Friday.

Cricket officials decided to pause the T20 tournament after a match on Thursday was abandoned in Dharamsala, less than 200 kilometres (125 miles) from the town of Jammu, where explosions were reported hours earlier.

Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings wrote on X: "Courage in every step. Pride in every heartbeat. Saluting our armed forces!"

The account tagged a picture of the armed forces with the words: "Nation first. Everything else can wait."

The 10-team IPL, which features numerous cricket stars from around the world and is the richest competition in the sport, started on March 22.

Lucknow Super Giants had been scheduled to host Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday.

The final is scheduled for May 25 at Kolkata's Eden Gardens and typically attracts a vast global television audience.

Among the overseas stars are Australians Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head and Mitch Marsh, while former skipper Ricky Ponting coaches Punjab.

Cricket Australia said in a statement on Friday before the suspension news: "We continue to closely monitor the situation in Pakistan and India... and maintaining communication with our players and support staff currently in the region."

Pakistan cricket has already taken the decision to move the remaining matches in its T20 league to the United Arab Emirates because of player safety.