Umran Malik’s family orders him to stay in Hyderabad amid India-Pakistan tensions

Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bowler Umran Malik, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, has been advised by his family to stay in Hyderabad for safety. Malik's family has urged him to stay put as a precautionary measure during the rising geopolitical tensions.

India targeted nine terror hotspots in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The IPL 2025 season has been suspended for a week. Due to the military conflict, players from all teams, including international cricketers, have begun returning to their home countries, hoping the situation will improve soon.

Umran Malik Told To Stay In Hyderabad Amid India-Pakistan War

Umran Malik, along with his Kolkata Knight Riders teammates, recently traveled to Hyderabad for the IPL 2025 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Malik had been with the team under the "return to cricket" program as part of his rehabilitation after an injury.

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With the suspension of the IPL due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, all players, including those from KKR, have been asked to return home. However, Malik's family has advised him to stay in Hyderabad for safety reasons, given the ongoing shelling in Jammu, especially in the Poonch district.

🚨📰| According to AajKaal, Umran Malik is the only Indian player who has stayed back in Hyderabad after the suspension of IPL. His family in Jammu has advised him not to return home for the time being. pic.twitter.com/qmk1RL7VFT

— KnightRidersXtra (@KKR_Xtra) May 10, 2025

Umran Malik Fizzled Out After a Promising Start to His IPL Career

The 25-year-old fast bowler was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹75 lakh during the IPL 2025 mega auction. Umran Malik was ruled out of the tournament due to an injury. He joined the KKR squad as part of his rehabilitation process.

Malik's IPL journey began with a bang in 2021 when he debuted for SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) against KKR, earning recognition for his blistering pace. His breakthrough season came in 2022 when he claimed 22 wickets in 14 matches, which led to an India call-up.

However, after that impressive start, Malik's performances gradually declined. In IPL 2024, he was part of the SRH squad that finished as runners-up but featured in just one match.

IPL 2025 Season Suspended Amid Escalating India-Pakistan Tensions

The IPL 2025 season has been suspended due to the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. 12 more league matches were set to be played before the playoffs. However, the ongoing situation has led to the suspension of the tournament by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The game between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) in Dharamsala was called off midway on Thursday, May 8. Only 10.1 overs were completed in the first innings before the match was halted.

A total of 58 matches had been played in the league before the suspension. The top priority for the organizers is to ensure the safe return of overseas players, staff, and broadcasting teams. The BCCI is expected to release an updated schedule and new venues for the tournament in the near future.

Also read: 'Jacob Bethell should've been...' - Ex-England captain slams ECB for prioritizing IPL over international cricket