Foreign Players Boycott IPL

--- Foreign Players Boycott IPL After a tense ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and India, the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) made a major announcement: the Indian Premier League (IPL) was going to resume. But just as excitement started to build again, unexpected hesitation came from some of the world’s top cricketers. Several foreign players—especially from Australia—expressed serious concerns about returning to India. Their reason? Safety. According to media reports, many foreign players are still uncomfortable due to recent tensions, with some saying they are not yet ready to rejoin IPL teams. This reaction shocked both Indian media and the BCCI, leading to strong responses. The BCCI, clearly unhappy with the growing resistance, started reaching out to international cricket boards. Sources say they are now pressuring those boards to convince their players to return. The IPL’s Chief Operating Officer has been instructed to talk individually to cricket boards in Australia, England, and elsewhere, to address the players' doubts and give them confidence. A senior BCCI official shared that they are in constant contact with other boards and IPL franchises. Teams are also directly speaking with their players to make them feel secure and bring them back as soon as possible. But things took an even stranger turn when Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc’s wife, Alyssa Healy—captain of the Australian women’s cricket team—shared a troubling experience. Healy revealed how during an IPL match in Dharamshala, the stadium lights suddenly went off, creating a war-like atmosphere. What was supposed to be a thrilling match became a moment of fear and confusion. She described it as a "very uncomfortable" experience. The lack of clear communication inside the stadium made things worse. According to her, the Australian group chat was full of stress and anxiety during those moments. ---