In a sensational claim made in Pakistan’s National Assembly, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that Pakistani hackers were behind the sudden power outage that disrupted an Indian Premier League (IPL) match last month. According to Asif, the incident was part of a cyberattack in response to Indian aggression.
Speaking on June 14, Asif proudly stated: “After the Indian government and military showed aggression, our children — our young cyber experts — launched a cyberattack in response.”
The power failure he referred to occurred on May 8, during the IPL 2025 clash between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at the Dharamshala stadium, just a day after India violated international law by attacking Pakistan, including the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. In the middle of the match, one of the floodlights went out without warning before the game was called off, and fans and players were asked to leave the stadium for safety reasons.
The floodlight disruption at Dharamshala sparked speculation at the time, but officials had blamed it on a technical failure. Asif’s comments have now added a political layer to what was initially thought to be a routine power issue.
Calling the hackers “cyber warriors,” Asif said: “They did a remarkable job by switching off the floodlights during an IPL match.”
Both the PSL in Pakistan and the IPL in India were soon suspended as escalations between the two nations led to a brief but potent war. Eventually, each competition resumed with Lahore Qalandars and Royal Challengers Bangalore lifting the respective trophies.
Things between Pakistan and India are always on edge, even on the sporting front. The two nations are yet to face each other in major sporting competitions, but rest assured, when they do—like in the upcoming women’s ODI World Cup—the tensions will be palpable.