Former Australian cricketer Mitchell Johnson has said that prioritising the safety of cricketers is the first and foremost requirement for a country, accusing BCCI of forcing overseas cricketers to return for IPL 2025, after the tournament was suspended for a week due to cross-border tensions with Pakistan. IPL 2025 is all set to resume on Saturday, May 17, after it was suspended last week because of an India-Pakistan military showdown. After BCCI announced the resumption of IPL 2025 on Monday night, one of the major headaches for all teams was the availability of foreign cricketers. A day after IPL 2025 was suspended, most, if not all, overseas cricketers left for home, with some even on multi-leg flights. “If I had to make a call whether to head back to India and finish the tournament, it would be an easy decision. It’s a no from me. Lives and safety are the most important thing, not paying cheques,” Johnson wrote in his column for The West Australian. “It’s a personal decision. No one should be coerced or feel pressured into going back, even if the IPL and Pakistan Super League, which have also been halted, push hard for it,” Johnson said. BCCI’s step to resume IPL 2025, which now sees the final being pushed back from Sunday, May 25, to June 3, puts eventual pressure on overseas boards, some of whom had international games lined up. The most crucial of those is the World Test Championship final, which will start on June 11 at the Lord’s, between Australia and South Africa. While Australia have less to worry about with just Pat Cummins and Travis Head having committed to return, Cricket South Africa finds itself in a spot of bother. “While Cricket Australia has empowered players to make their own decisions, the weight of those choices can be heavy. Opting not to play could lead to disappointment or even professional and financial repercussions down the track, but prioritising safety is first and foremost,” Johnson said. IPL 2025 will resume with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on the Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday, May 17 at the former’s home.