Will BCCI ban foreign players who refuse to return after IPL 2025 starts?

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is set to resume on Saturday, 17th May 2025, after the league was suspended due to the India-Pakistan tensions. Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to play their reverse fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. While fans are excited at the prospect of the league getting ready for resumption, there are major doubts over foreign players coming back to India. 

There are questions about whether the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will punish the overseas stars if they don’t return. According to the new laws enforced regarding player pull-outs, the BCCI cannot punish any player if they don’t return for the resumption of the league. According to a clause, ‘If any unforeseen incident’ takes place, the players are free to take their call. 

With international cricket set to begin, many players may want to give the final stages of the IPL a miss. Josh Hazlewood, who has been in prime form for RCB, has already been ruled out of the remaining fixtures due to injury. The 34-year-old has been named in Australia’s squad for the World Test Championship final against South Africa. 

Pat Cummins confirms return for IPL 2025?

With Australia and South African players set to play the WTC finals, there are doubts that many franchises could suffer from the loss of players. Teams like Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, and Mumbai Indians, who are still in the playoff race, could be impacted if players don’t come back. 

Cricket Australia put out a statement which read “Cricket Australia will support players in any case. If they want to return to India or stay back in Australia is their choice. We have to think about the World Test Championship Final as well”. In case Australian players don’t return, then they will have the full backing of their board. 

Meanwhile, ESPN Cricinfo have reported that Pat Cummins and Travis Head have expressed their decision to return. This will be massive news for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) fans in the final few games of the season. SRH are already out of the tournament after their game against Delhi Capitals was rained out. 

Neil Maxwell, who happens to be Pat Cummins’ manager, was quoted by ESPN Cricinfo as saying, “Pat has a responsibility as captain of the franchise and is looking at returning,". While Cummins and Head are set to return, there is no clarity on the other SRH’s overseas players.