Airlines have been told to avoid certain existing flight routes between Delhi-Mumbai, India's primary trunk route for domestic air travel, and re-route flights till May 14 amid escalating tension between India and Pakistan.

In the past, cricket helped bring the two countries closer. But separating the growing political tensions from the sport has became almost impossible.

India's cricket board said it had suspended the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament on Friday as fighting escalated with neighbouring Pakistan.