England all-rounder Moeen Ali has shared his harrowing experience during the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), revealing that rising military tensions between India and Pakistan forced him to leave the tournament early while his parents were in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) when operation Sindoor took place.
Speaking on the Beard Before Wicket podcast, Moeen revealed, “My parents were actually in Kashmir at the time… in Pakistan, only about an hour away from where the strikes happened probably. Maybe a bit farther. So it was a bit crazy and then they managed to get the only flights out actually on that day. I was glad they got out, but it was crazy,”
The IPL 2025 season was suspended for nine days earlier this month after hostilities escalated between India and Pakistan. The tournament resumed briefly but came to a standstill again when the Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match in Dharamsala was abandoned mid-innings due to blackouts in parts of the country. Moeen, who was playing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), said the conflict quickly turned personal.
He added, “It was mad, obviously there were those attacks in Kashmir before everything really kicked off. Then within no time things just rapidly escalated and all of a sudden we’re in the middle. It felt like we’re in the middle of a war, but obviously we didn’t hear anything (like missiles striking). All of a sudden you’re just scrambling to get out of the country and just to make sure obviously your family’s fine. People are worried about you back home and just to make sure they’re at ease as well,”
Moeen Leaves on leaving IPL 2025
Moeen revealed that he left India even before the tournament was officially suspended, battling a viral illness and overwhelmed by the situation. Moeen said, "So the night before they cancelled it… I'm one of those who doesn't care what we're playing in the IPL or the PSL. What's important is to be safe. Or try and be as safe as possible. I mean you're never safe anywhere in the world."
"But try to obviously protect your family and kids as much as you can. All that kind of stuff and just make sure everything's good. I was just out (of the tournament) before they even cancelled it to be honest,”.
He added, "To be honest I wasn't well, so I was really sick at the same time. So I reckon I had some viral thing or whatever it was. I was really really bad, and I was just out. I was just making sure like I was fit enough to just get out of there,”.
