Renowned Bollywood actress and Punjab Kings co-owner, Preity Zinta, has addressed the unexpected events that unfolded at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamshala on May 8, 2025, where the IPL match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was called off after just 10.1 overs due to security concerns. In a heartfelt post shared on her X (formerly Twitter), the actress expressed her gratitude to fans and officials for their cooperation in the matter. She also apologised for her seemingly ‘curt’ behaviour during the emergency evacuation.
Preity Zinta addresses the chaos following the abrupt IPL suspension
The last few days have been nothing short of chaos, given the rising cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. On May 8, 2025, the highly anticipated match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals took a dramatic turn after reports of air raid alerts in nearby regions. The air strikes in regions like Jammu and Pathankot triggered an abrupt suspension of the IPL match, leaving audiences and players stunned and confused.
Amid security concerns, Preity Zinta joined the authorities to help speed up the emergency evacuation. Video clips from the night showed Preity Zinta addressing the crowd and urging them to vacate the stadium promptly.
Now back home, Preity took to social media to share her side of the story, explaining the situation and expressing deep appreciation for the smooth coordination by the authorities. On May 11, 2025, the actress broke her silence, thanking ICC Chairman Jay Shah, Arun Dhumal, CEO Satish Menon, and the entire Punjab Kings operations team for executing a swift and safe evacuation of the stadium. Her post on X read:
“Finally back home after a crazy last few days. A heartfelt thank you to Indian Railways & our Railway minister Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw, for helping both IPL teams and all officials & families leave Dharamshala in a safe, swift & comfortable way. A big thank you to @JayShah, Mr Arun Dhumal, BCCI & our CEO, Mr Satish Menon & the Operations team of @PunjabKingsIPL for helping co-ordinate the evacuation of our stadium in Dharamshala safely & in an orderly manner. Everything was handled so well.”
Preity Zinta’s heartfelt apology to fans
Further in her post, Preity commended the fans who were present in the stadium that day for not panicking and avoiding any stampedes during the emergency evacuation. The actress acknowledged the viral videos showing her asking fans to leave the stadium and refusing selfie requests, emphasising that her priority lay in everyone’s safety. She wrote:
“Finally, to all the people that were in the Dharamshala stadium – Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou for not panicking & for any stampedes. You guys are absolute rock stars. I’m sorry I was a bit curt & said no to pictures with everyone, but the need of the hour was the safety of everyone, and it was my duty & responsibility to make sure everyone stayed safe. Thank you for making it possible. Love you all, Ting !”
IPL 2025 put on hold amid Indo-Pak tensions
Given the present situation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the suspension of IPL 2025 for one week. All players, officials, and crew were transported safely to Delhi via a specially arranged train service, facilitated by Indian Railways. It is hoped that the match could resume soon.
What do you think about Preity Zinta’s heartfelt post regarding the stadium evacuation?
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