The world’s biggest cricket tournament — the Indian Premier League — has been postponed and Australian players are set to return home, amid growing military tensions.

Escalating conflict between Pakistan and India in recent days has led to security fears around the tournament.

Sources have confirmed to The West Australian the tournament has been postponed — with potential for it to be cancelled — and Aussie players will return home.

West Australian star Mitch Marsh and his Lucknow Super Giants coach Justin Langer are flying home on Friday evening along with trainer Warren Andrews.

Fellow West Aussies Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie and Marcus Stoinis all play for Punjab Kings and Tim David plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

There has also been reports commercial flights have been suspended at 24 airports in the north of India.

Around 50 people have died in the conflict, mainly in Pakistan in Indian air strikes, including one on a cricket ground in Rawalpindi.

The Kings’ game with Delhi Capitals was called off on Thursday evening because of what officials described as a power blackout.

New Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has backed the BCCI’s move.

“The safety and welfare of our players and staff is always a core priority and we support today’s decision by the BCCI,” he said in a statement.

“We continue to work closely with the Australian government, PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) and BCCI and are maintaining regular communication with players and support staff in both India and Pakistan.”

In a post on Instagram, the Super Giants said: “nation first” and “saluting the Indian armed forces”, but the league is still yet to publicly confirm the pause.

One option that has been floated is for the league to shift to South Africa. There are strong cricketing ties between the two nations and South Africa’s own domestic Twenty20 tournament is owned by the IPL.

The Pakistan Super League has been shifted to Dubai for the remaining eight matches of its season and the finals. That includes former Australian opener David Warner and quick Sean Abbott among other local players.

The IPL is the most lucrative domestic tournament in the world. The 13 Australian players in the tournament are being payed a combined $12 million.

Test and one-day international captain Pat Cummins’ deal to play for Sunrisers Hyderabad is worth $3.7 million.

Nathan Ellis, Mitchell Starc, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Spencer Johnson, Xavier Bartlett, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head and Adam Zampa are the other players in India.

Glenn Maxwell has returned home with a fractured finger and Tasmanian Mitch Owen was set to travel from Pakistan — where he was playing in the Super League — to India as his replacement when that tournament ended.

Australian women’s captain Alyssa Healy is also in India with her husband Starc.