Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain expressed immense relief upon his arrival in Dubai on Saturday, May 10, 2025, following a harrowing period at the Pakistan Super League (PSL) marked by escalating border tensions between India and Pakistan. (More Cricket News)
The cricketer recounted scenes of fear among overseas players, including a particularly distressing episode involving England's Tom Curran.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had announced the postponement of the T20 league on May 9, a decision that came swiftly after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suspended the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season for a week. Following the PSL's suspension, overseas players were evacuated to the UAE for onward travel.
"Alhamdulillah, we have reached Dubai after overcoming a crisis, and I am feeling well now," Rishad, who represents Lahore Qalandars, told reporters at Dubai Airport. He then shared a chilling detail about their departure: "After we landed in Dubai, we heard that a missile struck the airport just 20 minutes after we took off. The news was both scary and saddening, and now that we are here, we feel relieved."
The spinner revealed the immense stress his family endured. "Whenever I go out to play, my family worries about whether the situation is safe or not. When they heard the news about the bomb blasts and missile strikes in Pakistan, they were understandably tense."
Rishad described a palpable sense of fear among his fellow cricketers. Pacer Nahid Rana from Peshawar Zalmi was reportedly "visibly shaken" and "very quiet." Rishad added, "I kept reassuring him that hopefully, nothing would happen to us."
The anxiety was not limited to the Bangladeshi players. "Foreign players like Sam Billings, Daryl Mitchell, Kusal Perera, David Wiese, and Tom Curran were all frightened," Rishad recounted.
He shared New Zealander Daryl Mitchell's alleged reaction: "After landing in Dubai, Mitchell told me that he would never go to Pakistan again, especially under these circumstances. Overall, they were all horrified."
A particularly poignant account involved England's Tom Curran. "Tom went to the airport but learned that it was closed. He began crying like a child, and it took two or three people to comfort him," Rishad stated.
The Bangladeshi player also shed light on discussions with the PCB regarding the tournament's continuation. He revealed that PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi initially proposed moving the remaining PSL matches to Karachi. However, this was met with resistance from players concerned for their safety.
"The meeting was called to understand our concerns about the current situation," Rishad explained. "Almost all the foreign players agreed that the only safe place for the later part of the tournament was Dubai."
He further alleged, "Yes, the PCB chairman tried to convince us to conduct the remaining matches in Karachi, trying to downplay the situation by not informing us about two drone attacks that had occurred the day before, which we later found out."
Despite the tense negotiations and the harrowing circumstances, Rishad expressed gratitude towards the PCB. "Ultimately, we decided to shift to Dubai, and the PCB chairman was very helpful in ensuring our safe arrival, by the grace of Almighty Allah. We are very thankful to him and the Pakistan Cricket Board," he concluded.
