Former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson said it was not ideal for overseas players to return for the remainder of the IPL and urged them to prioritise safety over pay cheques amid the ongoing circumstances arising out of India-Pakistan military hostilities.
IPL 2025 was suspended on May 9 because of the border tensions following a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. However, a day after its suspension, a ceasefire between the two countries was announced, paving the way for IPL’s resumption from May 17.
Despite this, Johnson believes it would be prudent for the foreign players to skip the remaining matches.
“While Cricket Australia has empowered players to make their own decisions, the weight of those choices can be heavy,” Johnson wrote in his column for the West Australian.
“Cricket might involve mega bucks these days but it is still just a game, and that has been brought sharply into focus after the Indian Premier League’s hiatus this week.
“If I had to make a call whether to head back to India and finish the tournament, it would be an easy decision. It’s a no from me. Lives and safety are the most important thing, not pay cheques,” the former left-arm pacer added.
On Monday, the BCCI announced the resumption of the league after holding extensive consultations and getting necessary clearances from the government, pushing the final to June 3 from the originally scheduled May 25.
